Lawsuit
filed against driver of car in fatal crash
(As
reported in the The Star, 8/25/02)
By Darcel Rockett
The
parents of Midlothian teen who was killed in traffic accident
last month have filed a civil lawsuit against their son's
friend, who was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash.
Eamiel
Beck III died of head injuries and a broken neck when the
vehicle that he was a passenger in hit a utility pole near
the Midlothian Park District Community Center early on July
28.
Joshua
Rose was the driver of the vehicle. Rose has been charged
with reckless homicide and is free on a $2,500 bond. His
next court date is Sept. 2 at the Markham court house.
The
crash occurred about 3:40 a.m. as Rose drove a 1998 Lincoln
Continental belonging to Beck's father. Rose ran a stop
sign on 145th Street at Kostner Avenue, police said. The
car crossed Kostner, then sped down a short drive and lawn
before it hit a telephone pole. Beck was leaning his head
on or out of the car window when it hit the pole by the
front passenger seat, police said.
A
blood test showed Rose had a blood alcohol content of 0.091,
above the state's limit of 0.08 for intoxication, police
said.
Beck
had asked Rose to drive home from a party because he, too,
had been drinking, police said.
The
lawsuit alleges that Rose was negligent for operating a
motor vehicle while intoxicated and driving at a high rate
of speed, thereby causing the vehicle to leave the roadway
and hit the pole.
According
to attorney Tim Cavanagh, who is representing Lori A. Beck
and Eamiel Beck, Jr., there is no specific request for damages
at this time.
"Typically
I have that amount in closing arguments," said Cavanagh.
"But the trial probably won't go on for a year."
The
lawsuit is pending before Judge Michael Hogan.
Rose,
18, of 5725 Chaucer Drive, Oak Forest, has is free on bond
and must stay at his parents' home except when he works
at United Parcel Service. Both Rose and Beck were June graduates
of Oak Forest High School.
Eamiel
Beck III, 17, was to attend Southern Illinois University,
where he planned to major in music education.
"It's
unfortunate that this is yet another tragic example of the
dangers of underage drinking and driving," said Cavanagh.
"(Beck) was a smart, intelligent and motivated young
man with a bright future ahead of him."
