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The truck driver behind the wheel of the semi that crashed into the Cermak/Chinatown Red Line stop was given a traffic citation last night. Don Wells, 64, hasn't been charged with anything else, even though two people died and 21 were injured in the crash.
Police say further charges are possible and that they're still investigating. Wells apparently tested negative for alcohol and use, but according to witnesses, the truck didn't slow down at all before crashing through a bus stop and then the station itself. The CTA surveillance footage of the incident has been turned over to investigators. [S-T, Trib profiles of the victims, AP (video), AP photo]
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I recall reading when the story first broke that he tested negative for alcohol, but refused a urinalysis. He's obviously hiding something...
just guessing but i bet he fell asleep after driving 20 hours jacked up on caffenie pills and speed.
he should be tried for manslaughter by the county and at least get a citation for wearing that shirt by the fashion police
I wonder if Wells received his driving credentials from the DMV when Ryan was in office?
it's my understanding he refused medical treatment (including the urinalysis) because he doesn't have health insurance
frp - even if he had, at what point are we going to stop bringing that up? that would have been how many years ago now? assuming that he doesn't have a list of citations/accidents, he'd probably be a capable truck driver by now.
@jimbo -- clearly Wells is not a "capable" truck driver. He DROVE A TRUCK INTO A CTA STATION AT SPEED AND KILLED PEOPLE. My guess is that trumps "capable" any day of the week. So, he's "capable" alright -- capable of reckless homicide.
And, from that investigation that led to the incarceration of Ryan, it was discovered that many of those "capable" truck drivers were indeed not so capable, as truck driving licenses were distributed ILLEGALLY.
@magilla -- Wells had already submitted to a breathalyzer and passed. He does NOT have to undergo any further chemical testing. Urinalysis, as well as other forms of chemical testing, are NOT covered by health insurance; they are paid for by you and I and the rest of the taxpayers of our fair state.
ok frp, i stand corrected. i could have sworn i read that in the trib but maybe i'm wrong
frp - if, and that's a big "if," he was part of the ryan license scandal, it's time to get over it. unless this was his first time driving a truck or any other motor vehicle of some sort, there's no excuse to not hit the brakes. paying for a drivers license 5 years ago has nothing to do with driving into a cta platform with either intent or gross negligence.
Wow, amazed at all the truck driver haters here.
As someone who formerly had a job like this (driving a truck) I'd be willing to bet you dollars to doughnuts that it comes back that this poor mans employer didn't properly maintain the vehicles they had him drive and that his brakes gave out as he came down the off ramp and as his life flashed before his eyes he froze on figuring a way out of what was about to happen.
This happened twice where I used to work. Thankfully only property damage in both incidents.
I don't see any "...truck driver haters.." here. I just see people who don't appreciate someone who recklessly kills two people, injures 20 more, and causes a million (or whatever) dollars in damage.
Especially when the guy doesn't give a urine specimen and dresses like Fat Bastard (apologies to Mike Myers).
I think people wouldn't have as big a problem if he would have cooperated more with the investigation, especially considering the amount of wreckage.
I do feel bad for the civil suit that will come to him out of this. . .
This is wild speculation on my part, but I agree with turkchgo: my first thought was the brakes on the truck gave out. I find it hard to believe a guy can fall asleep driving on a crowded expressway - seems to me most people who fall asleep when driving do it on the open road, when there isn't much stimulation.
As for lawsuits, you can bet the truck company is going to get slammed, and I wouldn't be surprised if somebody tries to get the CTA for negligent station design or something. Who puts a station at the end of a T-intersection coming off an onramp?
I thought half shirts went out of style in the late seventies. Oh, wait...nevermind...