Alcohol may have been a factor in a crash that occurred in Lake County, Indiana that killed a woman from Crete, Illinois and injured a man from Indiana. Neither car held any passengers.

On Saturday, January 7, 2012, Annette Orellana was driving westbound in the vicinity of 98^th and Sheffield avenues outside of St.

John, Indiana about 2:42 a.m. when she was rear-ended by another vehicle. The 43-year-old Crete resident was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center and passed away on Sunday at approximately 12:41 a.m.

Anthony Vanderheyden, the driver of the other vehicle was airlifted to Loyola University Hospital with serious internal injuries. The 35-year-old Dyer, Indiana man was still there as of Monday morning. Lake County Sheriff’s department is investigating the accident and believes alcohol played a part in the crash. No charges have been filed at this time.

An automobile accident can change lives in an instant. If you or a loved one has lost someone due to a car accident, call Spiros Law at 815-929-9292 for experienced representation. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.

On the 21st of December a concerned citizen called in an accident that occurred near milepost 316 on Interstate 57 in Bradley.

Emergency responders from the Bourbonnais Fire Protection District and Illinois State Police found a 2004 Chevrolet submerged upside down in a pond about one mile north of the I-57 exit for Bradley and Bourbonnais.

The body of the driver, Joliet resident Michael L. Simms, was recovered from the vehicle. It was reported that the Chevrolet left the southbound lane if the interstate before over-turning and sliding into the pond. The cause of the accident is under investigation. The 27-year-old Simms was a former player on the Kankakee County Soldiers basketball team.

Accidents can take a life instantaneously. If you or a loved one has lost someone because of a vehicle accident, call Spiros Law at 815-929-9292 to explore your legal rights. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.

 A 76-year-old Chicago woman was hit by a Dodge Caravan on Saturday morning and died later that day from her injuries. The driver allegedly fled from the scene but was later arrested for leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

The accident took place on December 5, 2011 in the 4500 block of Sunnyside Avenue in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago. Hyun Cho was crossing the street at 7:15 a.m. when she was hit by a blue 2006 Dodge Caravan driven by Jose Cornejo-Flores, a 51 year old Guatemalan immigrant.

Cho died later that day and a subsequent autopsy determined she died from multiple injuries caused by the crash.

Cornejo-Flores did not assist Cho nor did he give his information to police before leaving the scene. He has since been arrest and held on a bail of $50,000.

A hit-and-run accident can take the life of a loved one in a moment. If you or someone you know has lost someone in a hit-and-run accident, call Spiros Law at 815-929-9292 to determine your legal rights. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.

A Manteno resident was struck by a vehicle while he was jogging in the early morning hours of Tuesday, November 01, 2011. Manteno High School teacher and wrestling coach Cory Blanchette died at the scene and was pronounced dead at the scene by Kankakee County Coroner Robert Glessner.

Blanchette was jogging southbound on North 3000E.

Road (also known as Sycamore Road). He was hit by a southbound car about a half a mile north of East 9000N Road which is also called County Highway 9. The vehicle has been identified as a red 1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo that was driven by a 21-year-old man from Dolton.

The driver of the vehicle submitted blood samples, as required by state law, and gave no obvious indication of impairment.  The accident continues to be under investigation and results of the accident reconstruction are pending.

A life of a loved one can be lost in an instant from a vehicle accident. If you or loved one has loss someone close because of a vehicular accident, call Spiros Law at 815-929-9292 to explore your legal rights. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.

A Frankfort man was arrested in Peotone on Saturday, October 8, 2011 after driving into the entrance of a bowling alley.
 
Jessie Brower, 30, was driving north on Second Street in Peotone around 2a.m. Saturday morning when he allegedly ran into a parked car. Brower then apparently swerved to his left, crossed the street and plowed into the entrance of Peotone Bowling Center. He left the scene before

the police arrived and was found driving on the wrong side of the road on Illinois Route 50.
 
Brower was apprehended as he was driving on Illinois Route 50. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident.
 
Drunk drivers don’t always cause damage to only property. Driving intoxicated can lead to physical injury and loss of life. If you or a loved one has had their life changed by a drunk driver, call Spiros Law at 815-929-9292 to find out your legal rights. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.

A St. Anne man was killed on the evening of September 15th after being hit by a pickup truck  while on his lawn mower in rural Papineau.

Martinton resident Daniel J. Mitchell was going south on Iroquois County Road 2000E Road when he hit Dennis W. Busse, 60, as Busse was riding his lawn mower. Mitchell collided with the lawn mower in his 1996 GMC pickup truck less than one mile north of Iroquois County Road 3100N Road. Busse was pronounced dead at the scene. Mitchell was arrested by Iroquois County Police.

Mitchell was charged with aggravated DUI and driving on a revoked license. He was being held at the Iroquois County Jail in lieu of bond. 

When a loved one dies in an accident involving intoxication, it seems as if there are no right answers. If you or a loved one has lost a family member in an accident involving a driver charged with a DUI, call Spiros Law  at 815-929-9292 to find out your legal options. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.

The intersection of Sunnyside and Austin Avenues in the Jefferson Park neighborhood of Chicago was the scene of a two-car accident on August 9, 2011 that left a mother and her 16-year-old son dead as well as three other children injured.
 
Claudia Delia was headed west on Sunnyside Ave to meet with another family before going up to the Wisconsin Dells. The Honda Civic contained Delia and her son, Bryan; 3-year-old son Hauk Marvin; 15-year-old step-son, Zack Marvin; and Chris Diaz, a friend of the teenage boys. Chicago resident Richard Strum was headed south on Austin Avenue in his mustang and hit the Honda. The force of impact was so strong that the Honda was pushed against a nearby light pole.
 
Strum, 35, was charged with three counts of felony aggravated DUI for causing bodily harm in an accident and two counts of felony aggravated DUI in an accident causing death according to a statement released by the police. Strum had earlier been ticketed for driving with a suspended license and operating a vehicle without insurance.
 
Neighbors rushed to help the victims in the Honda. They stated that they have complained many times to the alderman and police in regards to the intersection as Sunnyside is not a straight cut across Austin. Instead, cars must make a jog to the left across Austin in order to continue on Sunnyside.
 
Some accidents take the lives of people because of drivers on the road under the influence of substances that impair their driving ability.  If you or a loved one has lost a family member in an auto accident cause by a driver charged with a DUI, call Spiros Law at 815-929-9292 to find out your legal rights.

Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.

The Minnesota-based company, Cargill, announced that they are recalling 36 million pounds of fresh and frozen ground turkey in light of a salmonella outbreak that has killed one person and sicken 76 other people in the United States.

Reported illnesses date back to March of 2011 and have come from 26 states coast to coast.

Michigan and Ohio have had the highest number of reported cases at ten each while Illinois has had seven reported cases, ranging in people aged 3- to 60-years-old. California is the only state to report a death due to this product.

The source of the contamination is believed to be from the company’s Springdale, Arkansas’ plant during the dates of February 20^th through August 2^nd of 2011.  Packages that in the recall include the code “Est. P-963,” and are under many different brand names. These include but are not limited to Honeysuckle White, Riverside Ground Turkey, Natural Lean Ground Turkey, Fit & Active Lean Ground Turkey, Spartan Ground Turkey and Shady Brook Farms Ground Turkey Burgers. The recall also includes ground turkey products packaged under the HEB, Safeway, Kroger, Randall’s, Tom Thumb and Giant Eagle grocery store brands.

Salmonella cause diarrhea, nausea and other intestinal symptoms. It can lead to dehydration and death if not treated properly.

Contaminated food does not always look or smell bad. If you or a loved one has been ill from contaminated food, call Spiros Law at 815-929-9292 to find out your legal options. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.

Downtown Pontiac was the scene of a death investigation after a 59-year-old woman was hit by an SUV while walking on June 30, 2011.

Carol Lynch died on Saturday, July 2, 2011 from her injuries.

The Pontiac resident was stepping off the curb and into the path of a 2001 Ford Explorer when she was hit. The driver was a 17-year-old whose name has not been released by authorities at this time.  It is reported that Lynch may have been talking on the phone when she was struck.

Accidents can happen while doing  errands or anyplace. Injuries can cause permanent health issues or death. If you or a loved one has lost someone in a pedestrian accident, call Spiros Law at 815-929-9292 to find out your legal options. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.

A 59-year old woman was killed when she stepped off the sidewalk in downtown Pontiac and was struck by an SUV.  Authorities are still investigating the incident, but they have confirmed that the woman was hit by a 2001 Ford Explorer, operated by a 17-year old driver whose name has not yet been released by police. While details are still unclear, authorities have indicated that the woman may have been talking on her cell phone at the time of the accident.

Accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians can be particularly devastating.

If you or a loved one has been hit by a vehicle, it is important to have an experienced attorney on your side to help you or your family protect their rights and their livelihood.  For more information on pedestrian accidents, contact an experienced Kankakee pedestrian accident lawyer of Spiros Law, P.C., at 815-929-9292 to discuss your legal options.