Prosecutors said on Thursday that a 20-year-old man who had never been issued a driver’s license and was once charged with fleeing police during a traffic stop was pushed through a crowd crossing the road into the Guaranteed Rate Field. announced that it had entered
Critic Garcia faces four counts of aggravated reckless driving, along with four counts of aggravated reckless driving, in addition to a misdemeanor unlicensed driving charge and three traffic citations Tuesday night for crashing on the steps from a stadium on the 300 block of West 35th Street. is being asked.
Garcia, who was behind the wheel of a silver Acura sedan, seriously injured four pedestrians crossing 35th Street to the park entrance around 6:30 p.m. A man was thrown headfirst into the sunroof of his Acura, prosecutors said.
“[Garcia]shows a senseless disregard for other individuals,” Judge Charles Beech II said in setting bail.
Garcia, who lives in the South Side’s New City neighborhood, was ordered to be held in custody in lieu of $20,000 bail and to wear an ankle monitor if released.
At a 15-minute hearing broadcast on YouTube, prosecutors described a violent crash near the front gate of the White Sox stadium on game day and a desperate chase to arrest Garcia, leaving four people seriously injured. It did not give a specific reason behind the crash. .
Prosecutors said the four victims, a 51-year-old woman and three men aged 24, 25 and 64, were all leading a group of pedestrians crossing the 35th but approached the pavement. Just then, I collided with a car that was traveling at a high speed on the shoulder lane. .
Victims, including a 64-year-old man who landed on the sunroof, were thrown into the air, prosecutors said. Assistant State Attorney Sarah Dale-Schmidt told the court that police dashcams showed the victim hanging from the sunroof and driving away from the scene. One Acura passenger allegedly dragged the man into the vehicle.
The Acura crashed into the concrete median on the Dan Ryan Freeway as state troopers maneuvered traffic after ignoring flashing police signals chasing Garcia. Police pulled Garcia out of the driver’s seat and took him into custody.
Prosecutors said there was no probable cause of the crash and did not mention drug or alcohol-related injuries. One of Garcia’s passengers told authorities that everyone in the car yelled at Garcia about people on the street, but Garcia ignored them, Daleschmidt said. Authorities said the same passenger said there were no apparent problems with the vehicle’s braking or acceleration during the ride with Garcia.
Of the four victims, one suffered a traumatic brain injury and “has remained unresponsive and intubated,” said Dale Schmidt.
The 64-year-old victim, identified by his family as longtime IBM employee and Evanston resident Charles Jansey, was described by his family as an avid White Sox fan and season ticket holder. According to prosecutors and Janzy’s family, Janzy suffered serious injuries including broken ribs, a broken spine, a broken leg and a dislocated thumb.
Despite the injury, Janzy’s son Jerome told the Tribune on Thursday that his father was discharged from hospital earlier that day. Young Janzee, who was born and raised in Evanston and moved to California last year, recalled being horrified when he heard the news of the accident, but now said he was surprised by his father’s progress. Charles Jansey led an active lifestyle, running, biking, gardening, and watching Sox games.
“It could have been worse,” Jerome Janzy said. “I mean, my family describes this situation as a miracle. I was hospitalized for about two days, but luckily I didn’t need surgery. I can’t believe it.”
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Jerome Janzy said he was waiting outside the stadium to cross the road, as he had done so many times from his father, when he was crossing the road with others when “out of nowhere a car came. “I was told there was a conflict,” he said. Jerome Janzie said his father’s recovery was “hopeful but still uncertain”.
“I felt it was very unfair that my father would be the victim of such an incident,” Janzee said. “He’s the type of person who never wants to harm another person, and is always ruthlessly kind and, frankly, also very selfless.”
Prosecutors said Garcia had no criminal record but never had a driver’s license and had his license suspended twice for failing to appear in court. In one case, Garcia was charged with misdemeanors, including trying to evade police by running away and driving without a license and insurance. Garcia’s attorney said Garcia was a package delivery man with his 9-month-old son.
Beach expressed concern over Garcia’s previous absence from the court proceedings and his refusal to comply with legal orders in setting bail. “The number of pedestrians there is painfully obvious to anyone who has driven down that street during a Sox game,” Beach said.
Garcia is expected to return to court next week.
wlee@chicagotribune.com
sahmad@chicagotribune.com
