'A Tough, Horrific Day:' Driver Devastated By Accident That Left 13-Year-Old Boy Dead, Police Say

• Police gather at 87th Street and Latrobe Friday afternoon where a 13-year-old boy on bike was struck and killed by a dump truck. | Photo by David George Heklowski III

Burbank, IL, June 3, 2016 -- UPDATE -- The driver of a dump truck involved in a tragic accident that left a 13-year-old boy dead on Friday afternoon was issued a traffic citation.

Burbank Police said the 69-year-old driver was cited for failure to exercise due care and released. The man, who is said to be devastated by the accident, has a court hearing July 19 at the Bridgeview Courthouse.

“The [boy’s] family has been made aware of this,” said Division Chief Michael Dudlo via email. “Seeing as how this was a tragic accident all around … the driver, who is a father himself, is distraught over this incident … we will not release his name at this time.”

According to police, the boy was riding his bike eastbound on the sidewalk on 87th Street. He was crossing Latrobe when the dump truck making a right turn off of 87th Street struck and killed the boy around 2:27 p.m. Friday.

Dudlo said the driver was taken to a hospital where he submitted to blood and urine withdrawals, which is protocol in accident investigations.

“We have no reason to believe drugs or alcohol were a factor,” the division chief said.

The specimens are being sent to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for analysis. If there is an indication of drugs or alcohol in his system, more charges will be filed at a later date.

“This was a real tough, horrific day for a lot of people,” Dudlo said. “As a father myself, this hit close to home.”

Police are not releasing the boy’s name out of respect for his family’s privacy.

Original story -- A 13-year-old boy was struck and killed by a construction truck Friday afternoon in Burbank at 87th Street and Latrobe, police said.

Division Chief Michael Dudlo, of the Burbank Police Department, said the boy's family, who live in Burbank, has been notified.

• Related: Dump Truck Hits Cyclist on 87th Street Friday Afternoon

According to police, at about 2:27 p.m. a truck was traveling westbound on 87th Street and was attempting a right turn northbound onto Latrobe. The truck struck the boy, who was riding a bike eastbound on the sidewalk on 87th Street crossing Latrobe.

Dudlo said the driver of the truck is 69 years old and works for RJ&R Trucking and Excavating in Frankfort. The driver has not yet been cited or charged and the police investigation remains ongoing.

There is no indication drugs or alcohol are a factor in the fatal accident at this time.

Neighbors said workers have been out for the past several weeks installing new curbs on Latrobe.

Most of the curbs on both sides of Latrobe have been removed and are blocked off with sawhorses. The accident took place several feet away from the crosswalk at north of 87th Street on Latrobe. It is not known if the Frankfort trucking company is involved in the curb work.

Word of the accident quickly spread throughout the neighborhood, shocking residents.

An older woman approached police moments after the accident happened. Police allowed her to view the body. She soon left, walking back to her car.

“I thought it might have been my grandson,” she said. “It wasn’t.”

The South Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team was at the scene for about five hours after the accident occurred. Police erected an enclosure around the boy’s body during their investigation. Investigators could be seen examining a bicycle that appeared to be entangled in the truck’s front tires.

The boy’s remains were taken to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. Dudlo said the boy’s name is not being released out of respect for his family’s privacy.