Passenger Killed When Vehicle Crashes Into Parked Cars
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Charges were pending Sunday against the driver of a vehicle that crashed into several parked cars early Saturday in the Austin neighborhood, causing the death of a passenger in the car.
The vehicle struck multiple parked cars about 5 a.m. Saturday in the 1500 block of North Laramie Avenue, police News Affairs Officer Veejay Zala said.
Police said the rear passenger -- identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner's office as 34-year-old Claudio Cardenas -- was killed in the crash.
Authorities said Cardenas suffered head trauma and the medical examiner's office said he pronounced dead 5:27 a.m. at West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park. An autopsy Sunday found that Cardenas died of cervical spine injuries from an automobile striking another automobile, and his death was an accident, the medical examiner's office said.
The driver was taken into custody and as of Sunday afternoon charges were pending, police said.
The police Major Accident Investigation Unit is investigating.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
