Watch CBS News

1 Dead, 4 Injured In Fiery Crash After Driver Runs Red Light In Chatham

CHICAGO (CBS) -- One person was killed and four others were injured, when a driver ran a red light and collided with a car full of people early Thursday in the Chatham neighborhood.

Surveillance video is helping piece together what happened shortly after midnight at 79th Street and King Drive.

Police said a 35-year-old man was driving south on King Drive when he ran a red light, and T-boned a car headed west on 79th Street.

Surveillance video shows, after a flurry of smoke, the car that ran a red light spun around the intersection before coming to a stop on the other side. There's a pause as the reality settles in around everyone who witnessed it, and then, one by one, people stop what they're doing to sprint across the street.

"I went over there to try to keep him up as much as I can," witness Victor Turner said. "I had to calm him down to tell him to calm down, we're trying to help, move your head so we can bust the window while we open up the door to get him out as quickly as possible."

More people joined the efforts to help, and police arrived just seconds later. It couldn't have been a moment too soon

"This car was on fire, so we quickly got them out to save them," Turner said.

The car that was hit had four people inside. The 54-year-old man driving that car was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. A 51-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman were taken to hospitals in good condition. A woman in her 50s suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for observation.

The 35-year-old man who ran the red light was taken to the hospital in good condition. Police said he has been issued traffic citations, and further charges are pending.

Also From CBS Chicago:

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.