NEWS RELEASE
RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT
31 Riverside Road, Riverside, IL 60546
24 January 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chief Weitzel tweitzel@[Link]
708.447.2127 - Follow RPD on Twitter @pdriverside
Car Strikes Bridge, Fence and ComEd Pole in Single Vehicle Accident
Forest Avenue Shut Down for Three Hours Due to Electrified Ground
On Friday, January 23, 2015 at 9:46 p.m., the Riverside Police Department received numerous 911 phone calls
reporting a single vehicle accident at Forest and Groveland Avenues. When the first officer arrived, he found a
black 2003 Acura up over the south curb of Forest Avenue at Groveland. The vehicle first collided with the bridge,
then struck a wrought iron fence, then struck a Commonwealth Edison pole splitting the wood pole in half and
pushing the electrical wires to the ground and into the Des Plaines River. The officer noted when he arrived that
both the driver and passenger were out of the vehicle standing at the curb line on Groveland at Forest.
The vehicle sustained heavy front end damage and the air bags had deployed. Riverside Fire and Paramedics
were called to the scene to check the medical status of the driver and passenger.
It was learned from the investigation that the vehicle was southbound on Groveland when it approached Forest
and the driver lost control of the vehicle when he attempted to turn right to go westbound on Forest from
Groveland thereby striking the bridge, a wrought iron fence, ComEd pole and then landing over the curb. The
driver, a male juvenile, refused medical treatment. The passenger, also a male juvenile from Cicero, was
transported by Riverside Paramedics to MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn for observation. He was conscious and alert
and his injuries were non-life threatening.
As a result of the accident, the live power line fell to the roadway across the Forest Avenue Bridge and into the
Des Plaines River. When this occurred, the Riverside 911 Center received phone calls from residents who stated
that when they went outside to see what had happened, they could feel that the ground was electrified. They were
advised to stay in their homes. ComEd was on the scene within 30 minutes of the crash.
Riverside police blocked off the immediate area and shut down all vehicle and pedestrian traffic on Forest between
First Avenue and Lincoln for 3 hours following the crash. The area of Forest, Pine, West and Groveland was
barricaded with yellow tape to keep residents out of the affected area.
Forest Avenue was opened at midnight to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. However, it took until 6:30 AM for ComEd
to restore all power in the area and clear the entire scene.
The driver of the vehicle, a 17-year-old male juvenile from Cicero, was taken into custody as he did not have a
drivers license. He was charged by Riverside Police with driving too fast for conditions and driving with no drivers
license. The vehicle was towed from the scene.
Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel stated, This was the result of an inexperienced teenage driver driving too
fast for conditions and losing control of the vehicle he was driving. Both juveniles were extremely fortunate that
they did not sustain serious injuries.
The parents of both boys were contacted and advised of the situation involving the crash.
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