Prosecutors on Thursday mentioned {that a} 20-year-old man who was by no means issued a driver’s license and was as soon as accused of fleeing police at a visitors cease plowed by way of a crowd of individuals crossing the road to move into Guaranteed Rate Field.
Condelarious Garcia faces 4 counts of aggravated reckless driving, together with misdemeanor driving on a suspended license and three visitors citations for the Tuesday evening collision steps from the stadium within the 300 block of West thirty fifth Street.
Authorities mentioned Garcia was behind the wheel of the silver Acura sedan that severely injured 4 pedestrians crossing thirty fifth Street to the park entrance round 6:30 p.m. A 64-year-old man, was tossed headfirst into the Acura’s sunroof, prosecutors mentioned.
“(Garcia) displays a wanton disregard for other individuals. The fact that his flight was more important than the safety of the individual lodged in his sunroof, or the safety of the people in the car with him,” mentioned Judge Charles Beach II whereas setting bail.
Garcia, of the New City neighborhood on the South Side, was ordered held in lieu of a $20,000 bail, and could be outfitted with an ankle monitor ought to he be launched.
During the roughly 15-minute listening to broadcast on YouTube, prosecutors described a violent crash close to the primary gates of the White Sox stadium on a recreation day and the frantic chase to arrest Garcia, however supplied no clear cause behind the collision that severely injured 4 individuals.
All 4 victims — a 51-year-old lady and three males 24, 25, and 64 — had been on the entrance of the group of pedestrians crossing thirty fifth when a dashing automobile within the curbside lane struck them as they neared the sidewalk, prosecutors mentioned.
The victims had been thrown into the air, together with the 64-year-old who landed within the sunroof, prosecutors mentioned. A police dashcam captured the sufferer’s legs and toes dangling by way of the sunroof because it sped away from the scene, Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Dale-Schmidt informed the courtroom. One of the Acura’s passengers pulled the person totally into the automobile, she mentioned.
After Garcia ignored the flashing police lights pursuing him, state troopers carried out a visitors maneuver that brought about the Acura to crash into the Dan Ryan Expressway’s concrete median. Police pulled Garcia from the driving force’s seat and took him into custody.
Prosecutors famous no potential trigger for the crash and didn’t point out any drug or alcohol impairment. One of Garcia’s passenger informed authorities that everybody contained in the automobile yelled at Garcia about individuals on the street, however that Garcia disregarded it, Dale-Schmidt mentioned. The identical passenger mentioned the automobile had no obvious issues braking or accelerating throughout their experience with Garcia, authorities mentioned.
All 4 victims suffered extreme fractures and stay hospitalized, together with one one that suffered a traumatic mind damage and “remains unresponsive and intubated,” Dale-Schmidt mentioned. The 64-year-old suffered two spinal fractures and damaged ribs.
Garcia didn’t have a prison background, however by no means had a driver’s license and had two lively suspension of his driving privileges for failing to seem in courtroom for citations, in line with prosecutors. In one case, Garcia was charged with misdemeanor fleeing and trying to elude officers, driving with no license and insurance coverage. Garcia’s court-appointed legal professional mentioned he was a bundle handler with a 9-month-old son.
Beach voiced concern over Garcia’s prior missed courtroom circumstances and refusals to comply with lawful orders in setting bond. “It’s painfully obvious to anyone who’s driven down that street during a Sox game the number of pedestrians that are present there,” Beach mentioned.
Garcia is predicted to return to courtroom subsequent week.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com