UPDATE: Truck Driver In Red Line Station Fatal Crash is Dead
WBBM NewsRadio 780 Reporting
CHICAGO -- Donald Wells, the driver of the semi truck that crashed into the CTA Red Line’s Cermak-Chinatown station, killing two women, has died, authorities said.
Wells, 64, of Metamora, Mich., died late-Friday or early-Saturday, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner. Officials had confirmed Wells was the driver the semi truck that crashed into the Cermak-Chinatown station, 138 W. Cermak Rd., on April 25.
It uss not immediately known if Wells died as a result of the April 25th crash. A Saturday autopsy came back “pending further police investigation,” the medical examiner said.
Elosia Guerrero, 47 and Delisia Brown, 18, were killed in the crash that injured 21 others when the truck exiting the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-94) crashed into the bus stop outside the L station, then into the station’s escalator.
Wells -- who was driving for Whiteline Express, a Plymouth, Mich.-based company -- was ticketed April 27 for negligent driving, police said.
Brown’s parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Wells and Whiteline Express May 2 and Guerrero’s family filed a separate wrongful death suit against Wells and Whiteline Express on May 23.
The police Major Accident Investigation Unit had been conducting the investigation.
As WBBM reported earlier, Wells had had exhibited very odd behavior immediately after the accident . Officials had never determined why the truck slammed into the 'L' stop after barreling down the off-ramp from the Dan Ryan Expressway without slowing down.
Wells was first taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County following the crash and was released into police custody the night of the accident. Initial toxicology tests showed no signs of illegal drugs in Wells' system.
After police took his clothes as evidence, Wells declined the paper garments he was offered and stayed nude in the police lockup. During the two days he was in custody, Wells urinated on the floor of his cell instead of using the urinal, sources said.
In addition, the Chicago Tribune reported that Wells arrived in Chicago without the shipment he was supposed to be hauling from Champaign.
Wells, of Metamora, Mich., was ultimately ticketed for negligent driving and released from custody. Police said he did not make a statement, and they continue to investigate his physical and mental condition.
The truck left no skid marks, sources said. That fact has led investigators to wonder if the brakes malfunctioned -- or if Wells simply did not apply them. Investigators are examining the truck for mechanical problems, but the mechanical components of the truck were severely damaged.
Wells refused to give a statement to police. Lawmen had planned to interview other truckers about legal and over-the-counter drugs truckers take to stay awake. He declined to comment on the prescription drugs, which sources would not identify.
Not knowing the cause of the crash still haunts some CTA riders.
"I think it's something we need to know," said CTA passenger Peter Beasley. "It was something that was tragic; something that didn't need to happen."
"Whether it was brake failure, mechanical failure, or human error, you can't really gauge when these things are going to happen," added passenger Gene Moy.
According to U.S. Department of Transportation records, in the 30 months preceding the accident, Whiteline had 41 accidents with 15 injuries and one fatality.
Contents of this site are Copyright 2008 by WBBM. The STNG wire contributed to this report.
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