A quiet Sunday afternoon in Streeterville turned into a scene of chaos and flashing lights.
Chicago police responded to the 400-block of East Illinois Street just after 1:15 p.m.
A 65-year-old woman and a 5-year-old child were attempting to cross the busy intersection.
At that moment, a gray Toyota minivan struck both pedestrians.
The impact left the woman with significant head and neck injuries.
Emergency responders rushed her to Northwestern Hospital in serious condition.
The 5-year-old child suffered injuries to their lower body.
Medics transported the child to Lurie Children’s Hospital in good condition.
Hospital staff treated and released the child later that day.
The driver of the minivan was identified as a 53-year-old man.
He did not suffer any physical injuries during the collision.
However, he was taken to Northwestern Hospital for observation.
Doctors treated and released him shortly after his arrival.
Officers on the scene issued a citation to the driver.
The Chicago Police Department’s Major Auto Accident detectives are now leading the investigation.
Recent History
Streeterville remains one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Chicago.
The 400-block of East Illinois Street is a high-traffic corridor near popular shopping and dining destinations.
This area frequently sees a mix of heavy vehicle traffic and high pedestrian volume.
Recent years have seen an increase in pedestrian-related incidents across the downtown area.
Last year, community leaders raised concerns about visibility at nearby intersections along Grand Avenue and Illinois Street.
Similar accidents in the Near North Side have prompted calls for increased traffic enforcement.
Safety advocates often point to the high number of delivery vehicles and ride-shares in this specific zone.
The investigation into this specific Sunday crash is currently ongoing.
Police have not yet released the specific details regarding the citation issued to the driver.
