Driver In Palatine Fatal Crash Will Not Be Cited

The driver in the crash that killed a pedestrian Nov. 5 will not be ticketed.

The Department that occured near the intersection of Northwest Highway and Benton Street. Palatine resident Margaret Gibbons, 78, was struck by a vehicle at about 6:45 p.m. She died of her injuries five days later.

"The investigation, which included witness statements, showed that the 78 year-old pedestrian was in the east crosswalk proceeding northbound while the signal light for traffic on Northwest Highway was green," Palatine police stated in a press release. "A westbound vehicle on Northwest Highway proceeding through the intersection on the green light struck the pedestrian."

The 2000 Oldsmobile which struck Gibbons was driven by a 54-year-old woman from Palatine. The incident was observed by a Palatine police officer who was in the adjacent lane from the Oldsmobile. The officer's in-car camera system captured the accident.

Gibbons is the second fatality at the intersection involving a pedestrian in less than two years. Aida Guss, 73, was killed on Feb. 18, 2010 after being hit by a truck while attempting to cross the intersection at 6 a.m.

The intersection is under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Palatine Police Commander Craig Lesselyoung said the intersection has pedestrian crossing signals that can be activated by a push button. He said after the signal is activated pedstrians have about 40 seconds to cross the intersection.

Lesselyoung said the light is always green for Northwest Highway unless the pedestrian signal is activated or a car pulls up to the intersection on Benton Street.

Lesselyoung said Palatine is forwarding their report on the intersection to the Illinois Department of Transportation and asking the state to review it and consider any potential changes that could improve safety.