Police: Driver Charged with DUI After Striking, Killing Toddler

A 27-year-old man was allegedly driving drunk and without a valid driver’s license when he struck a 2-year-old girl walking with her grandmother to a day-care center, police said.

Kellen Bledsoe, of the 5700 block of south Aberdeen, was charged with reckless homicide in a construction zone, aggravated driving under the influence in an accident causing death, aggravated driving under the influence without a valid drivers license, driving while never being issued a license and operation a vehicle without insurance, police said.

Prosecutors alleged Sunday that Bledsoe had a bloog alcohol level of .25, more than three times the legal limit of .08, according to the Chicago Tribune. He was reportedly held of $500,000 bail.

The charges stem from a Friday accident that killed a 2-year-old girl.

The toddler was walking to a day-care center with her grandmother, who was also pushing a stroller with an infant inside, when a 1999 Chrysler Concord ran a stop sign, according to witnesses and police.

The grandmother attempted to move the infant and her 2-year-old granddaughter, but the car struck the child, along with construction horses and two parked cars, police said.

Beldsoe allegedly attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly placed into police custody by an Englewood District beat car responding to the scene, officials said.

The child was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in “extremely critical condition” and was later pronounced, officials said.

The grandmother was transported to John H. Stroger Hospital where officials said her condition was not serious, but that she was “emotionally distraught.”
 

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