Local News

Driver Charged With Striking Worker Dead On I-57

Lovelle Gates Due In Court Friday

CHICAGO (STNG) ― A Harvey motorist is expected in court later Friday, charged with reckless homicide for fatally striking an IDOT contractor and seriously injuring another in a Wednesday hit-and-run on I-57 on the Far South Side.

Lovelle M. Gates, 22, of Harvey, is charged with reckless homicide, according to Illinois State Police District Chicago Master Sgt. Todd Borisy. Gates was also charged with one count leaving the scene of a fatal crash, driving with a suspended license, no proof of insurance, improper lane usage and failure to signal when required, according to an ISP release Friday morning.

Gates, who is also being held on an unrelated arrest warrant out of Sangamon County for failure to appear for driving with a suspended license, is scheduled to appear for a bond hearing at the Markham Courthouse, 16501 S. Kedzie Pkwy. later Friday.

The crash, which claimed the life of highway safety worker Jose Chavez, happened about 2:40 p.m. Wednesday in the southbound lanes of I-57 near 119th Street, authorities said. Two workers were struck while removing a sign warning drivers about a lane closure, according to IDOT spokesman Mike Claffey.

The motorist possibly fell asleep while driving before fleeing the scene of the crash on the far South Side, State Police said.

Gates was traveling southbound on I-57 at 120th Street when he swerved left onto the left shoulder of I-57, allegedly striking Chavez who was walking on shoulder retrieving a sign warning motorists of lane closures, according to the release.

Gates then allegedly struck the rear of Chavez' parked construction truck. The impact of the crash caused the construction truck to strike the second victim, highway safety worker Nicolas Tapia, 39, of Melrose Park. Gates was then allegedly observed by witnesses fleeing the scene on foot and was apprehended shortly after the crash by Troopers at 119th and Laflin Street in Chicago, the release said.

Chavez, of Berwyn, was transported to Christ Advocate Hospital and was pronounced dead at 3:31 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. Tapia was transported to John Stroger Hospital were he was treated for minor injuries and released.

ISP reminds motorists that upon entering a construction or maintenance zone when workers are present, a motorist must proceed with due caution, make a lane change into a lane adjacent to that of the workers present or if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe, they must reduce their speed and proceed safely, the release said.

Additionally, Scott's Law requires drivers to change lanes, if safe to do so, or reduce speed and proceed with caution when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing warning lights.

Any driver who strikes a construction, maintenance or emergency worker that results in death commits a business offense punishable by a fine not more than $10,000 and driver's license suspension for two years. Currently, drivers who speed through construction zones face a minimum $375 speeding citation, a bill Governor Blagojevich signed into law in 2004.

Effective June 1, 2008, Senate Bill 363 also allows a judge or jury to presume that a driver was acting recklessly if they were under the influence or driving with excessive speed and killed a construction worker in a safety or construction zone.

The penalty for reckless homicide while operating a vehicle carries a punishment of 2-5 years in prison. The reckless homicide of a construction worker in a safety zone carries a prison sentence of 3-14 years. The reckless homicide of two or more construction workers in a safety zone carries a prison sentence of 6 to 28 years. Killing someone while under the influence carries a prison sentence of 3-14 years.

Chavez is the first worker killed in a highway work zone in 2008.

"It is imperative that drivers slow down and use caution in work zones, so tragedies like today's incident along I-57 can be avoided," Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich said in a statement. "My heart goes out to their families, friends and co-workers."

(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2006. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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