Rush hour in the Chicago area can be a stressful and dangerous time for everyone on the roads. As drivers do anything they can to gain an advantage on the road, mistakes can be made and emotions can flare. These rush-hour conflicts, unfortunately, can cause serious car accidents, which can affect those who are uninvolved in the dispute.
One man found this out the hard way. Recently, a motorcyclist was caught in the middle of a case of road rage between two other motorists in DuPage County. The two drivers, who were both driving cars, began two argue about being cut off in traffic. Soon, the two drivers began to repeatedly cut each other off, trying to gain a better position in the traffic. During this process, a motorcyclist, who was not involved in the confrontation, was struck by one of the motorists.
Tragically, the 68-year-old biker died at the scene of the collision. Immediately after the crash occurred, the offending driver tried to flee the scene, but police quickly caught up with him. Upon arresting the 31-year-old driver, authorities took him to a local hospital to be treated for minor injuries. While there, he tested positive for marijuana use.
The 31-year-old driver has been charged with three felonies and two misdemeanors in relation to the car accident. In addition to aggravated reckless driving, the man could be facing penalties for felony DUI.
Undoubtedly, the motorcyclist's family is devastated. Reports indicate that he left behind his wife, six children and 12 grandchildren. All of these individuals will miss out on the time they could have spent with the man due to his premature death.
It is apparent that the 31-year-old motorist demonstrated negligence in this accident. Not only was he driving aggressively, but authorities believe he was under the influence of illegal drugs at the time of the incident. More than anything, the man shouldn't have been on the road in the first place, due to intoxication.
Though reports do not indicate whether the second driver, a 16 year old, will also face criminal charges, there is a chance both drivers could face civil penalties. Despite the fact that only one motorist struck the biker, the 16-year-old driver was certainly involved in the incident and contributed to the events leading up to the accident.
Source: The Chicago Tribune, "Road-rage jockeying in Naperville ends in death of uninvolved motorcyclist," June 15, 2012
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