LA GRANGE, IL – An area fire district denies it is liable for a crash more than a year ago in La Grange that resulted in the deaths of a Hinsdale couple.
The La Grange Highlands-based Pleasantview Fire District has responded to a lawsuit filed by the family of Brett Allen Lane, 51, and Melissa Ann Lane, 49, who died in the April 25, 2025, crash.
The other defendant was driver Bozena Slimak, who struck the Lanes' car.
In its defense, Pleasantview denied the lawsuit's allegation that its personnel showed "willful and wanton conduct."
During the afternoon in question, Pleasantview responded to a crash on Willow Springs Road, near Lyons Township High School's South Campus, according to the lawsuit.
Pleasantview medics showed up and found driver Bozena Slimak suffering a seizure and then morphing into "cognitive dysfunction," a state known for psychiatric symptoms such as agitation and hallucinations, the lawsuit said.
Despite the danger, medics failed to secure Slimak's 2017 Nissan and remove the keys from the ignition, the family alleged.
This allowed Slimak to reverse her car and speed away, with Pleasantview attempting to pursue her toward 47th Street and Willow Springs Road, the family said.
Pleasantview failed to warn other police and firefighters about the urgent need to block traffic on 47th Street, according to the lawsuit.
Slimak swerved around a Western Springs squad car on Willow Springs Road, speeding 90 mph and running a red light at 47th and Willow Springs Road, the family said.
She then crashed into the Lanes, who were in a 2024 Porsche 718 Cayman, the lawsuit said.
In its response, the district, represented by the Chicago-based Salvi Schostok law firm, said it did not pursue Slimak but followed her from a safe distance to render medical aid if it was needed.
But even if the paramedics had pursued Slimak, such an action is not inherently "willful or wanton" under state law, the district said.
The law firm said it found a lack of cases involving paramedics pursuing cars, but argued the case law was well-established in police pursuits.
The state's courts, the district said, routinely rule in favor of officers in chase cases where significant risk is involved.
The district also denied the family's allegation that the paramedics were at fault for not preventing Slimak from driving away.
"(T)his hindsight theory about what they could have done better simply does not rise to the level of willful and wanton conduct," the district said in the response.
The "willful and wanton" standard sets a high bar to prevent "second-guessing of split-second" decisions, it said.
"Just because the (Pleasantview) members could have done something to theoretically prevent or mitigate injury to others doesn't mean their failure to do so was the actual cause of the crash," the response said.
More than 17 months after the crash, La Grange police have not indicated that they have completed the investigation. The village manager has called it an unusually complex case.
Shortly after the crash, police said they were considering the possibility that a health issue may have played a role in the driver's conduct.
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