Former Ill. Paramedic, Wife Killed in Car Crash

Chicago Tribune

July 29—Five people were killed in four fatal traffic crashes overnight in Chicago, including two teenagers and a 61-year-old woman, and several others were hospitalized in serious to critical condition.

The teenagers—a 16-year-old boy and 18-year-old man—were killed in the same crash Saturday night in the Far South Side's Pullman neighborhood, in a head-on collision that also left two young adults in critical condition.

The teens who died were the 18-year-old driver and 16-year-old passenger in a Subaru sedan that had been speeding northbound in the 12000 block of South Doty Avenue and collided with a southbound Chrysler 300. Both were taken to University of Chicago Medical Center and pronounced dead. The Chrysler's driver, a 21-year-old man, and passenger, a 19-year-old woman, were both taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in critical condition, police said. The major accidents unit is investigating the crash.

In the most recent fatal crash, about 4:30 a.m. Sunday in Back of the Yards, a 35-year-old man died after the car he was driving northbound in the 4900 block of Ashland Avenue crossed the median and hit a southbound taxi cab, then a parked car, finally landing on a fourth vehicle that was parked, police said. The taxi driver was taken to St. Francis Hospital, where he was stabilized in serious condition.

Retired Chicago Fire Department paramedic Ambulance Commander Richard Biehl and his wife, Susan, were killed in another multi-car crash, according to the Fire Department. Shortly before 1:20 a.m., their Jeep flipped onto its roof when hit by a Chevy sedan in the 2100 block of East 103rd Street.

The Chevy had been heading east on 103rd, driving fast, when it first hit a grey Cadillac driving westbound, causing the Cadillac to strike a Buick on 103rd while the Chevy went on to hit the Jeep, police said. The Chevy's driver, a 30-year-old man, was taken to University of Chicago and was in critical condition, while three other people were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said it appears alcohol played a role in the crash.

A 28-year-old woman riding a motorcycle has also died following a crash about 9:55 p.m. Saturday in the 3200 block of West North Avenue in Logan Square. A witness said the motorcycle ran a red light as another vehicle was turning left, and the two collided, according to police. The woman was ejected from the motorcycle. She and the 38-year-old man driving the motorcycle were taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital, where she was pronounced dead and he remained in serious condition. No one in the other vehicle was injured and no citations have been issued, police said.