TRAIN
CRASH VICTIMS GET COURT DATE
(As reported in the Daily Herald 6/4/2001)
By Justin Kmitch
Daily Herald staff writer
Two
Addison residents severely injured in January when a freight
train collided with their vehicle are ready for their day
in court.
Attorney
Tim Cavanagh, who is representing 72-year-old victims Francisca
and Fidel Velarde, secured Nov. 14, the first available
trial date, for his clients in Cook County circuit court.
"The
Velardes are elderly and are no longer in good health, so
it was important to me to get in the courtroom as soon as
possible," Cavanagh said. "Nov. 14 is coming up very soon,
so I am very happy with the date."
Tape
recordings of communications between an Illinois Central
Railroad dispatcher and the train crew reveal a miscommunication
between dispatcher Robert Haas and the conductor, who attorneys
say caused a freight train to hit a sport utility vehicle
and injure its occupants Jan. 9.
All
three occupants of the SUV are still recovering from their
injuries, Cavanagh said. Francisca Velarde suffered a head
injury, and doctors say she suffers from post-concussion
syndrome. Her husband, Fidel, also suffered a closed head
injury, a torn aorta and fractured ribs and had to have
fluid removed from his brain.
The
driver of the vehicle, the Velardes' daughter, Lilia Apuello,
39, of Carol Stream, suffered a broken arm in the collision.
