Family sues Chicago worker over sidewalk

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From NBC Chicago

The parents of a toddler and her nanny, injured Saturday when a truck crashed into pedestrians on a Gold Coast sidewalk, have filed suit against the city of Chicago and the city worker driving the truck.

Tyler Jones, 20 months old, was being pushed in a stroller by her nanny, 25-year-old Jennifer Anton, when the crash occurred. Anton suffered severe fractures to her pelvis, hips and legs, and her condition remains serious. Tyler was released from Children’s Memorial Hospital.

“Witness accounts indicate that Jen Anton was a true hero,” Thomas A. Demetrio said. “She pushed little Tyler out of the path of a direct impact, and probably saved Tyler’s life.”

The driver of the car, Dwight Washington of the 1800 block of North Linder Avenue, was ordered held Monday on $400,000 bond. Washington faces four counts of aggravated driving under the influence and bodily harm, and two counts of misdemeanor DUI.

The 61-year-old city worker also was ticketed for carrying alcohol, negligent driving and failure to reduce speed.

Washington lost control of a city pickup truck during his shift Saturday near Cedar and Rush streets and drove into a crowd, police said.

Corboy & Demetrio on Monday filed two lawsuits on behalf of Tyler Jones’ parents and Anton. They ask for an emergency order of protection to preserve the truck, its contents and surveillance videotape. It also includes counts against the city of Chicago for negligent supervision of Washington.

“There was a drunken City worker driving a City truck in a crowded neighborhood,” said Corboy & Demetrio partner Dan Kotin in a statement. “In addition, based on eyewitness accounts, the City truck was traveling at an excessive rate of speed. Someone with the City of Chicago should have prevented this.”

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