MARKHAM, Ill,. (WLS) – On Friday night, a four-car collision in Markham, a southern suburb of Toronto, claimed the lives of two people and injured two more.
Markham police said that at 8:30 p.m., a Dodge being driven by Carlos Mendoza, 20, of Harvey crossed the median and t-boned a Mitsubishi SUV travelling east on 159th Street near the I-294 overpass.
Kimberly Villegas, Mendoza’s cousin, said, “He’s a wonderful kid.” “He’s a good child, for sure. Avoiding alcoholic beverages is one of his principles. He’s not a smoker at all. He was constantly looking out for us.”
Mendoza and the driver of the Mitsubishi were both killed when their Dodge caught fire. Advocate Christ Hospital is treating a guy passenger in Mendoza’s car who is in critical condition.
Homewood resident Zachary Kulak is the man the police say was at the wheel of the Mitsubishi.
According to investigators, a nurse who was driving another vehicle tried to avoid the collision by crashing into a Hyundai SUV. The police said the nurse’s status in the hospital is critical but stable. The Hyundai’s driver has been identified by police as a guard at the Cook County Jail. A medical team attended to him right there.
The authorities believe that high rates of speed were a primary factor in the collision. No signs of drug or alcohol use were observed.
“We don’t know why he lost control,” Markham City Administrator Derrick Champion said. “In the end, he swung around, crashed into the median, and crossed the street.”
He and his companion had spent the day shopping, Mendoza’s dad told ABC7 Chicago.
Among his family of five, Mendoza was the third. Carlos’s cousin informed him that he worked in a factory and spent his leisure time playing video games. His automobile was his most prized possession.
“He just liked to drive his car and everything,” Villegas added. Simply put, he enjoyed spending time with his pals at play.
The Illinois State Police are also conducting their own investigation and scene reconstruction.
