At least four people were struck by a vehicle in the South Shore neighborhood early on Sunday morning, and according to the Chicago Police Department, three of those persons passed away later at a local hospital after being taken there. The accident may have been intentional.
According to a statement that was posted online by the police department, at approximately five in the morning, officers were dispatched to the 7000 block of South Jeffery Boulevard. According to the authorities, a vehicle had been going in a southerly direction “when it struck four adult male pedestrians.”
A graphic video that appears to show the accident was uploaded to the internet by CWBChicago. A vehicle that looks like a silver sedan is shown in the video moving at a high rate of speed toward what appears to be a group of six or more men who are standing in one lane of the street and maybe arguing with each other or getting ready to fight physically. Because of a vehicle that has stopped in the road in the adjacent lane, access to the entire road is currently restricted.
It would appear that the car is making a slight turn to the side as it gets closer in order to avoid colliding with another pedestrian who is standing in the street. The vehicle continues to travel at a high rate of speed until it crashes into the crowd, sending several of the victims flying through the air for a distance of around 30 feet.
The second video that has gone viral on the internet appears to have been recorded by the dashboard camera of the vehicle that was parked beside the group of six men. A few seconds before the silver vehicle plows through the group, it shows one man pushing another in the group. One of the men in the group of six appears to have been spared by a matter of inches, although he appeared to suffer an injury to his foot or ankle, as he limps away out of the frame. When viewed from that angle, it appears that one man is knocked to the side with less force than the men who were sent into the air straight ahead. The sedan does not come to a stop at the light; the flashing of its brake lights does not begin until much later.
After being transported by paramedics to the University of Chicago Medical Center, it was determined that all three of the males had passed away there. The identities of two of the three males were made public on Sunday night, but the family of the third victim had not been contacted by the Cook County medical examiner’s office to inform them of their relative’s passing at the time of the release of the victims’ names.
According to the information that was made public by the office of the medical examiner, Devonta Vivetter, age 27, who resided in the 6100 block of South Carpenter Street in Chicago, was declared dead at five in the morning. According to the agency, Donald Huey, age 25, who resided in the 15100 block of Perry Avenue in South Holland, passed away around 5:35 in the morning. At 5:35 in the morning, it was determined that the third man had also passed away.
The location of the fatal accident was given by the office of the medical examiner as 7041 South Jeffery Boulevard. This location is also the location of The Jeffery Pub, which is not only the oldest LGBTQ+ bar on the South Side of Chicago but also one of the few such bars in the city that is owned by a Black person.
On Sunday, the pub addressed the collision on its Facebook page. The establishment is closed at 5:00 in the morning.
“Very unfortunately, a terrible accident took place early this morning after the store had closed. It added that “a small group of individuals were in the street when an unknown car drove past at a very high rate of speed, causing injury to numerous people.” This morning, our hearts are burdened since such a tragic tragedy has taken place. And to those who have suffered the loss of a friend or loved one, know that you have our support. We always encourage everyone to depart as soon as possible and get to their vehicles so that they can travel safely home.
Residents of Jeffery Towers, which is a short walk away from the pub, have said that something is always going on in the neighborhood, particularly in the vicinity of the pub, which is infamous for fights breaking out, particularly after midnight.
A spokeswoman for the Chicago Fire Department stated that officials suspect the crash was purposefully caused.
Don Terry, a spokesman for the police department, refused to say whether or not the collision was accidental or purposeful.
Terry has stated that whatever is included in the web statement is all that they are able to provide at this time.
According to the official with the fire department, a fourth individual was sent to Stroger Hospital suffering from serious to critical injuries. He also stated that they suspect a fifth person may have been struck and that he was brought to a hospital in a private vehicle. He noted that they are still investigating the incident. The image of the man with the damaged foot that can be seen in the video seems to provide support for this theory.
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Later on Sunday, images posted on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook depicted a silver automobile, probably a Buick, with a heavily damaged hood and a hole in the windshield, as well as two Chicago police officers standing alongside the vehicle.
Shaun Reid shared one of the photographs online and explained that he did so in the expectation that the driver would eventually be found.
According to what he shared with the Tribune, “I wish that they arrest the suspects who performed this senseless act of violence.”
The Tribune emailed the police with a number of queries, one of which inquired about the location of the vehicle and whether or not it had been found. On two separate occasions, the authorities provided responses without answering any questions and stated that the case was still being investigated. According to the police statement that was posted online, which was not updated after 8:00 AM on Sunday, the driver of the automobile had not been located as of that time.
