Teen Cited With DUI in Accident that Injured 5 on Southwest Side

Five Ambulances were called to the scene

A 19-year-old man was ordered held on $50,000 bond Sunday after being charged with driving under the influence for a Saturday morning crash that injured five people.

Emergency crews responded to the crash in the 5700 block of South Kedzie Avenue about 2:45 a.m. and summoned five ambulances to the scene, according to Fire Media Affairs.

Lathaniel Barajas was the driver of a Honda Accord that caused the accident with a Ford Crown Victoria taxicab, according to police News Affairs Officer Robert Perez.

Three people were taken to area hospitals in serious-to-critical condition, two to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and one to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to Fire Media Affairs.

Two people left in fair-to-serious condition were taken to Holy Cross Hospital and Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers in Evergreen Park.

Barajas was uninjured, Perez said.

He has been issued two citations for DUI, as well as one citation each for failing to produce a driver’s license, failing to show proof of insurance and failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Police are continuing to investigate and “additional charges may be forthcoming,” Perez said.

Copyright CHIST - SunTimes
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