Current Events > Off-duty Chicago Pig officer strikes, kills 9-year-old boy riding bike

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/boy-9-fatally-struck-by-vehicle-while-biking-on-sidewalk-in-west-rogers-park

The officer was driving north and struck Hershel in a crosswalk, Chicago police said. Hershel, who lived nearby, was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston where he died, according to police.

WaIt UnTiL wE hAvE aLl ThE dEtAiLs.

IsOlAtEd InCiDeNt.

He HaD a GuN.

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Probably

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Its my understanding that the 9 year old once saw a gun in a video game. The officer was rightfully scared.

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The office surely saw the child sneeze, and decided he must be hiding a Glock in his sinuses.

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No charges filed

Fucking disgusting

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I don't think his being a cop had anything to do with this... it was clearly a traffic accident.

I do think that manslaughter charges are justified, but under any circumstances America is really bad at punishing drivers who hit pedestrians. So I wouldn't hold my breath on a good outcome.

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ITT accidents don't happen

Correct_Facts posted...

ITT accidents don't happen

I was driving tonight through a neighborhood, a dog ran across the street and then a few seconds later a little kid just darted across the street. Just always have to be alert.

also its pretty sickening that users in here are using a childs death to make jokes

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It seems like a traffic accident. Tragic but unrelated to his line of work. Heart goes out to the family, its terrible.

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gatorsPENSbucs posted...

I was driving tonight through a neighborhood, a dog ran across the street and then a few seconds later a little kid just darted across the street. Just always have to be alert.

also its pretty sickening that users in here are using a childs death to make jokes

And 2 years ago I was driving around and a dog jumped out of a ditch right in front of me. I was alert and had NO time to react. It's like people always think that the driver is automatically 100% guilty. Sometimes the other person is at fault. It's tragic, yes, but why hang the driver before all the details come out?

Makes me sick to see so many of you making jokes about this situation.

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A pickup truck driven by an off-duty Chicago police officer struck and killed a 9-year-old boy riding a bicycle Wednesday evening in West Rogers Park.

The officer, 48, took a Breathalyzer test that was negative, according to Catanzara.

"Its just a tragedy. And any person could be in his shoes. This just happens to be a Chicago police officer," Catanzara told the Sun-Times. "Our hearts go out to the family. This officer is certainly never going to forget that. Its sad all-around."

So a terrible accident. Title makesit sound like the cop was hunting the child.

OffTempo posted...

It seems like a traffic accident. Tragic but unrelated to his line of work. Heart goes out to the family, its terrible.

I find it hard to see it has an accident when they hit someone in a crosswalk. All you drivers should know to pay attention at crosswalks. Since I don't drive, could someone explain to me how you don't pay attention to crosswalks? I've almost got hit many times because the people turning right at the light pull all the way into the middle of the crosswalk, and block the entire curb

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Bad_Mojo posted...

Since I don't drive

Nothing else you said was really needed. You cant really talk bad about stuff when youre clueless on the subject.

Correct_Facts posted...

I was alert and had NO time to react.

Dang, I went back and it might seem like I worded my thing wrong, I meant it more of a only thing you can really do is be alert and just hope for the best so I definitely agree with you and my bad about that.

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We got narratives and storytelling to do, no time for actualities.

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Correct_Facts posted...

ITT accidents don't happen

If it was anyone but a cop they'd be facing charges for vehicular manslaughter.

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gatorsPENSbucs posted...

Nothing else you said was really needed. You cant really talk bad about stuff when youre clueless on the subject.

Which is why I asked. But I guess you're defensive because you don't pay attention when you drive. Stay from behind the wheel, please.

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ScazarMeltex posted...

If it was anyone but a cop they'd be facing charges for vehicular manslaughter.

If it was just a random white dude not facing charges you'd be saying it was because he was a white dude.

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CalypsoDoom posted...

He was at a crosswalk. You are supposed to use additional caution when driving to ensure you don't hit someone crossing. It's not like the kid randomly jumped in the middle of the street

And it happens a lot. I don't understand why so many drivers just pull all the way into the crosswalk, blocking the whole thing off. I've been almost hit so many times because of it

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I dont usually post in threads like these but wow some of you making jokes really need help. The only reason this thread exists is because it happens to be a cop involved but this accident had nothing to do with his job. This whole thread is in bad faith. Such a tragic accident

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SF_Okami posted...

I dont usually post in threads like these but wow some of you making jokes really need help. The only reason this thread exists is because it happens to be a cop involved but this accident had nothing to do with his job. This whole thread is in bad faith. Such a tragic accident

Facts

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abolish da police

Bad_Mojo posted...

I find it hard to see it has an accident when they hit someone in a crosswalk. All you drivers should know to pay attention at crosswalks. Since I don't drive, could someone explain to me how you don't pay attention to crosswalks? I've almost got hit many times because the people turning right at the light pull all the way into the middle of the crosswalk, and block the entire curb

Just because it's an accident doesn't mean he didn't do anything wrong. Obviously he should have been paying attention, and I think that cars should be required by law to stop and let pedestrians cross at crosswalks. The law in America doesn't always agree with me on this, though. Illinois in particular tends to side with the driver in cases like this. It sucks but that's how it is.

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gatorsPENSbucs posted...

I was driving tonight through a neighborhood, a dog ran across the street and then a few seconds later a little kid just darted across the street. Just always have to be alert.

also its pretty sickening that users in here are using a childs death to make jokes

Yep. It's possible he wasn't paying attention or was driving too fast and it's possible it was an accident. Since his profession is police officer though, he needs to be strung up apparently.

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Kid was in a fucking crosswalk. That's reckless driving resulting in the death of someone. Dude needs to be punished for sure.

Also, it is prevalent that he's a cop, because how the fuck is he allowed to enforce rules when he clearly doesn't fucking follow them himself?

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Eat More Beef posted...

Kid was in a fucking crosswalk. That's reckless driving resulting in the death of someone. Dude needs to be punished for sure.

Also, it is prevalent that he's a cop, because how the fuck is he allowed to enforce rules when he clearly doesn't fucking follow them himself?

Prevalent?

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ScazarMeltex posted...

If it was anyone but a cop they'd be facing charges for vehicular manslaughter.

Like Jenner? Or Brandy? How much trouble did those two get in?

Just admit you and the majority of people in this topic are pretending to care about this because the word cop is involved. Then we can throw your biased opinion out the window and people can have actual conversations.

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Jiek_Fafn posted...

Prevalent?

You got me. I used the wrong word. I mean it was an important detail to the story.

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For people wondering how this happened because there was a crosswalk, not all crosswalks are at stop signs, and that appears to be the case here. I used Google Maps to pull up the 7300 block of N Sacramento in Chicago, and the below pic is it, heading northbound. It is meant as a place for people to cross the street when conditions call for it (although the driver is at fault for hitting a pedestrian, the pedestrian still needs to use caution for their own safety).

I am going to do a bit of assuming here, but it says the incident occurred in the evening. During evenings in Chicago, the curbsides are lined with parked cars, and that was likely the case on Wednesday evening. There would have been cars all alongside the road, except for just where that fire hydrant is located on the left, since that would be illegal. This makes it easier for someone to unexpectedly pop out of nowhere.

Additionally, the kid was on a bike. While we dont know the exact details of the time of the accident, a 9-year old on a bike has the potential to move a lot more quickly than a kid on foot. With the accident happening in the evening, visibility might have been less favorable than what is shown in the pic, too.

Again, Im making a lot of assumptions, but I can see how the accident would occur, given the right circumstances. Im not excusing it, but I can see how it might have happened.



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The Popo posted...

For people wondering how this happened because there was a crosswalk, not all crosswalks are at stop signs, and that appears to be the case here. I used Google Maps to pull up the 7300 block of N Sacramento in Chicago, and the below pic is it, heading northbound. It is meant as a place for people to cross the street when conditions call for it (although the driver is at fault for hitting a pedestrian, the pedestrian still needs to use caution for their own safety).

I am going to do a bit of assuming here, but it says the incident occurred in the evening. During evenings in Chicago, the curbsides are lined with parked cars, and that was likely the case on Wednesday evening. There would have been cars all alongside the road, except for just where that fire hydrant is located on the left, since that would be illegal. This makes it easier for someone to unexpectedly pop out of nowhere.

Additionally, the kid was on a bike. While we dont know the exact details of the time of the accident, a 9-year old on a bike has the potential to move a lot more quickly than a kid on foot. With the accident happening in the evening, visibility might have been less favorable than what is shown in the pic, too.

Again, Im making a lot of assumptions, but I can see how the accident would occur, given the right circumstances. Im not excusing it, but I can see how it might have happened.

lots of good here, but i think you missed one important thing. what's the speed limit on that road, and how fast was the driver actually going? because imo, that looks like no more than a 25, and could easily be a 15. lethal injuries are pretty rare at or under 20, and even if it is a 25, the driver should have at least some time to start braking.

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Medussa posted...

lots of good here, but i think you missed one important thing. what's the speed limit on that road, and how fast was the driver actually going? because imo, that looks like no more than a 25, and could easily be a 15. lethal injuries are pretty rare at or under 20, and even if it is a 25, the driver should have at least some time to start braking.

Id be shocked if it wasnt 25mph. I went down to the 7500 block without seeing any signs, which isnt uncommon in Chicago. Just about every residential street in the city is 25.

I think if a 9 year old came out from behind a car going the speed that would be associated with most bikes, it could be tough to stop in time. A kid mightve thought that he had a clear street while looking through the cars, and did not see the truck.

And again, Im making some assumptions here, just trying to paint a picture in which this is feasible. There is absolutely a chance as well that the driver was being reckless. We just dont know.

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Medussa posted...

the driver should have at least some time to start braking.

But what about this.

Correct_Facts posted...

I was alert and had NO time to react.

Theres a few in here that seem to be knowledgeable on driving, the majority though seem to see the word cop and base their opinion solely on that. Which isnt good for numerous reasons.

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The first few posts are fucking comical gold if the posters aren't just shitposting. The inability for some people to step back for two seconds is astounding. Fucking tragic situation regardless of whether the driver or the kid were in the wrong.

gatorsPENSbucs posted...

But what about this.

i live in deer country. i have to get from 35 to 0 several times a year. zero time to react is exceedingly rare. you don't always have enough time to get completely stopped, but if you're starting from 25 you should be able to slow quite considerably. and, if visibility is an issue, then you shouldn't be going 25, even if that's what's marked.

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action52 posted...

Just because it's an accident doesn't mean he didn't do anything wrong

I am saying that the driver did something wrong, so no idea why you quoted me saying that only to tell me the same thing.

Bad_Mojo posted...

I find it hard to see it as an accident

@The_Popo

THanks for the research. We have a lot of those crosswalks here in Portland as well. Some of them have a walk light, some of them don't. But it's still the law to slow down when approaching a crosswalk, I think. Like I said, this happens all the f'n time. Many drivers simply don't give a fuck about people walking.

This also goes the other way, I've seen so many idiots just cross the street outside of a crosswalk and without even looking because they're too fucking lazy to wait until they get to a crosswalk and they don't care about putting other people at risk.

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Nemu posted...

The first few posts are fucking comical gold if the posters aren't just shitposting. The inability for some people to step back for two seconds is astounding. Fucking tragic situation regardless of whether the driver or the kid were in the wrong.

I'm more shocked by @TheVipaGTS

They're getting more and more extremist

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Wow the "wait for all the facts" people still come out when it isn't even a shooting. "Didn't see em'." isn't an excuse for manslaughter.

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Bad_Mojo posted...

I am saying that the driver did something wrong, so no idea why you quoted me saying that only to tell me the same thing.

Wait.. then what did you mean by "I find it hard to see it has an accident"? Do you think he intentionally hit the kid with his car?

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I know ce hates cops but come on mane...

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action52 posted...

Wait.. then what did you mean by "I find it hard to see it has an accident"? Do you think he intentionally hit the kid with his car?

Hitting someone in a crosswalk, a place where drivers should pay attention to.

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action52 posted...

Wait.. then what did you mean by "I find it hard to see it has an accident"? Do you think he intentionally hit the kid with his car?

Bad_Mojo posted...

Hitting someone in a crosswalk, a place where drivers should pay attention to.

That makes no sense. Just because they are on the crosswalk doesn't mean it's not an accident. The only way it made sense to me is if you thought people were using the word "accident" to imply that the officer did nothing wrong.

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If theyre speeding its still labeled an accident, right? I disagree. If youre speeding, thats not a mistake.

Its the same to me here - A crosswalk should be a place that every driver should know to slow down for.

This was also said before I saw the picture of said crosswalk, which gives the drive a bit more leeway since it was one of the ones that doesnt have a light and is in middle of the road, which I think is bad for a crosswalk. So I can more easily see how it was an accident and not negligence

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