Palatine Woman Killed by Car Backing Out of Driveway
Jieru Chen and her husband were walking Wednesday in the 400 block of N. Hicks Road when a vehicle backing out of the driveway hit the couple, Chen died from her injuries Thursday.
The investigation continues into an accident that claimed the life of a 77-year-old Palatine woman.
According to a press release from Palatine Police, Jieru Chen and her husband were walking in the 400 block of N. Hicks near Northwest Highway on Wednesday at 12:01 p.m., when a car backing up in a private driveway hit the couple.
Police have determined that the 1998 Chevy Malibu driven by a 42-year-old female driving was the vehicle involved in the accident.
The driver told police she was backing up slowly eastbound out of an apartment complex and did not see anyone in her path, or feel any impact when the couple is believed to have been hit.
After the impact, she observed the couple lying on the ground and called 911.
Jieru apparently hit her head on the pavement during the incident, according to the release, and was ultimately airlifted to Lutheran General Hospital where she died of her injuries on Thursday.
The Palatine Police Technical Accident Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate the accident.
CaB
8:49 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
I have nightmares about this - our street is so dark at night! Sincere sympathy to the Chen family and God bless the driver.
Jean
9:17 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
Absolutely terrible. Please people never assume a driver sees you. This has almost happened to me many times even in broad daylight. I feel awful for the driver knowing this happened and they didn't even realize they did it. Be safe out there everyone.
Ellen
2:56 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
12:01pm IS broad daylight. It was a bright and sunny day.
Jean
9:39 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Thank you Ellen, but I was referring to the previous comment stating that their street is so dark. Aggressive much?
Ellen
11:50 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Jean, I was referring to both comments combined with the pic that makes it look like this was the middle of the night. A comment to you specifically would be indented under your comment. Overly-sensitive much?
Jean
9:42 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
I have re-read my previous statement and it should have read that I have had this happen to me many times both in low light and broad daylight. Sorry, someone on the internet was wrong. I still feel badly for all involved.
Ellen
12:03 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
I still would like to know how anyone, in the middle of the day, on a clear day, without the sun in their eyes, can back into two people, knocking them to the ground without seeing either of them or even noticing they hit anything.
Jean
4:21 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Ellen- Seeing as you utilized my description of "broad daylight" it appeared as you were addressing me. Also, commenting from my tablet does not give me the option to indent a response so there is that.Certainly not attempting to be over-reactive. Also the included photo is one that Patch seems to use on all police related articles that they do not have an actual photo for. I agree that one would wonder how a driver misses 2 people at noon, but I am not at all surprised. People simply do not pay attention to their surroundings. Walk, run, cycle at all in the area and one is bound to have a close call unfortunately. I just wanted to encourage pedestrians to pay attention as many drivers are not and on foot you are vulnerable regardless of who was at
Jean
4:23 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
fault. (not sure where it went)
Ellen
5:24 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Though I didn't know at the time what had happened, I was just a block away when emergency vehicles were arriving. I was on my bike so I know all too well that some drivers aren't paying enough attention to what is around them.
John
5:10 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
This is a horrific tragedy. My wife was a friend of the couple. I don't live in the area and I don't know whether or not people pay attention to pedestrian or bicycle traffic in that area but....that doesn't excuse the reckless driving and public endangerment caused by this 42-year old woman who should be tried for vehicular manslaughter and she should serve the maximum possible sentence for it. This "accident" was at 12:01 p.m. (noon)....absolutely no excuse! Was she on her cell? Obviously, she wasn't paying attention to what she was doing and, now, one person is lost forever and her loving husband has to ask "why?" and live with what happened for no reason whatsoever.