Drivers Were Weaving And Racing Before Fatal Oak Lawn Crash: Police

OAK LAWN, IL — The two drivers accused of causing a four-vehicle crash early Sunday morning that left a woman dead and her son fighting for his life were spotted by witnesses weaving and racing each other in traffic, prosecutors said.

Steven Bradford, 40, and Joann McNary, 32, both appeared Tuesday before Cook County Judge Linzie Jones on felony charges of aggravated DUI causing death and reckless homicide. Bradford is currently free on bond for an unrelated aggravated unlawful use of weapon by a felon case out of Markham.

During Saturday evening and into early Sunday morning, Bradford and McNary were both together drinking at the Gas Light Bar and Grill, 5130 W. 95th St., Oak Lawn, which has recently changed ownership, the prosecutor said. The bar's liquor license is also up for possible revocation for a series of other incidents.

Prior to the crash, an Oak Lawn police officer had arrived at the Gas Light on an unrelated matter. The prosecutor said the officer saw Bradford driving away from the bar at an accelerated speed and turned east on to 95th Street, followed by McNary in a Honda Accord.

An Oak Lawn police officer, monitoring traffic at 103rd Street and Cicero Avenue, observed both vehicles driving at excessively high rate of speeds heading south on Cicero, the prosecutor said. The officer began following both vehicles in an attempt to stop them.

Witnesses told police that they saw Bradford and McNary weaving in and out of traffic and crossing into oncoming lanes. Both vehicles appeared to be racing each other.

Maria Anita Chacon, 66, was a passenger in a Lincoln driving by her 30-year-old son, Tomas, who were stopped in the left lane at the intersection of 110th Street and Cicero Avenue. Bradford was also in the left lane, and McNary was in the middle lane, the prosecutor said.

When Bradford tried to pass the Chacons’ Lincoln and McNary’s Honda, the prosecutor said Bradford’s Challenger hit the Lincoln with such force, that the Lincoln spun out into the northbound lane of oncoming traffic.

The driver of a Dodge Ram pickup approaching the intersection was forced to turn sharply to avoid hitting Bradford and McNary’s vehicles, the prosecutor said. The Dodge Ram hit the Lincoln head on.

McNary’s vehicle left the roadway, crashing into a bench and rolling over several times until it came to a rest in a parking lot. Bradford’s vehicle came to a stop at 110th and Cicero. The prosecutor said Bradford and McNary got out of their respective vehicles with minor injuries.

Maria Anita and Tomas Chacon were unconscious when both were removed from the Lincoln. They were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where Maria Anita was pronounced dead. Tomas remains hospitalized in critical condition with life-threatening injuries and has been medically sedated. Their family has started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for funeral and medical expenses.

The four people in the Dodge Ram were also treated and released for severe bruising and whiplash at Advocate Christ.

Police said McNary appeared disoriented and unaware that she had been in a rollover crash, with a strong odor of alcohol on her breath. McNary and Bradford admitted to police to spending the evening at the Gas Light, the prosecutor said.

At the time of the impact, the prosecutor said Bradford was clocked driving at 110mph, McNary at 90mph. The crash was captured on surveillance video. Both consented to blood draws, police said, which showed McNary with a .188 blood alcohol content, and Bradford’s BAC at .135.

The prosecutor requested a violation of bail bond for Bradford’s pending aggravated unlawful weapons charge. He has felony convictions for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in 2003, and possession of a controlled substance in 2005, for which he received probation for both. In 2006, he was charged and convicted for conspiracy to distribute heroin in federal court. Bradford was sentenced to 217 months in a federal prison, and five years of supervised release. The prosecutor said federal agents have requested a detainer.

McNary has a 2021 misdemeanor conviction, and was given supervision.

Bradford’s attorney told the judge that his client supports his grown son and is employed as a maintenance worker for a municipality.

McNary’s attorney said she is currently employed as a full-time loss prevention officer for Walmart in Richton Park, where is well liked by managers and coworkers. She is also in poor health and only has one kidney.

The judge set bail for Bradford, of Harvey, at $250,000 for the new case. He is being held without bail for the pending weapons charge. If released, he is to remain on electronic monitoring with no movement, and no driving, alcohol or other intoxicants.

McNary, who the prosecutor says resides in Blue Island, had her bail set $100,000, with pre-trial monitoring three times a month if released. Both are due back in court Sept. 16 in Bridgeview.