79-Year-Old Niles Woman Killed by Open Minivan Door

A 79-year-old Niles woman died Sunday after being hit by an open door of a minivan driven by her teenage grandson, according to Niles police reports.

Kuem S. Cho asked her 13-year-old son to help put her 2005 Chrysler minivan into gear at around 9 p.m. in a parking lot in the 9200 block of Maryland Street, Niles police said. Cho then walked up to the open driver's side door when the grandson shifted the vehicle into reverse and accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brakes. Cho was struck by the vehicle's open door as as it began to move.

Cho was taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where she was pronounced dead from her injuries, police said. The Major Crash Assistance Team is still investigating the accident, and the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office is looking into the cause of death, according to police.