$10.5M Awarded To Husband Of Woman Killed On Bike In Arlington Heights

CHICAGO — A Cook County jury has awarded $10.5 million to the husband of a woman killed in 2022 while riding her bike. The jury reached their decision Thursday on the behalf of Krzystof Jarosz, whose wife, Sylwia Wagner Jarosz, 45, was struck and killed by a dump truck in Arlington Heights.

Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, based in Chicago, represented Jarosz. The defendants, AJC Concrete Construction, admitted liability just prior to trial, and a damages-only trial in the case began on Tuesday.

Jarosz was a teacher working with Polish students at Long Grove Country School at the time of her death.

As reported by Patch, Sylwia Jarosz was riding her bicycle to work along northbound Wilke Road, near the intersection of Lake Cook Road, at around 7:20 a.m. Sept. 29, 2022. Jarosz came to a stop at a red light on the southwest corner of the intersection.

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While waiting for the light to turn green, a truck owned by AJC Concrete Construction attempted to make a left-hand turn from Lake Cook Road onto Wilke Road. The driver did not stop before entering the intersection over the speed limit and collided with another vehicle, causing the truck to veer off the road and strike Jarosz on her bicycle.

Jarosz was taken with life-threatening injuries to a nearby hospital, where she later died.

A lawsuit was filed on behalf of her husband on March 24, 2023, according to Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard. The money awarded to Krzystof Jarosz was for his "past and future loss of society, grief, sorrow and mental suffering, and loss of spousal benefits and services," according to his lawyers.

"Krzysztof and Sylwia were college sweethearts in Poland and moved to the U.S. together in 2005," said Lance D. Northcutt, who represented Krzystof Jarosz. "Krzysztof has suffered an unimaginable loss, and every aspect of his life has changed since losing his best friend. It was not easy for Krzysztof to relive the worst moments of his life, but we are thankful to the jury for listening to his story and recognizing his grief."