Driver Sued Over Fatal Crash With Bicyclist In Skokie

SKOKIE, IL — The driver of an SUV that fatally struck a bicyclist in Skokie last year is being sued by the estate of the late rider.

85-year-old Skokie resident Tae J. Kwon died on Dec. 30 of last year, more than a month after he was hit by a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox while riding south down Kostner Avenue.

A wrongful death lawsuit filed on his behalf Tuesday seeks upwards of $50,000 from the driver of the Chevrolet, Janice K. Hamilton, also of Skokie.

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Hamilton, 63, was driving eastbound on Mulford Street and turning left onto Kostner Avenue on Nov. 18 when the crash occurred, according to the Skokie Police Department's traffic crash report.

The suit was brought by the administrator of Kwon's estate, Joanne Hwa Lee. It accuses Hamilton of driving negligently and eight separate violations of state law.

Last November, Hamilton was issued a citation for failure to yield to a pedestrian at the scene. She was found guilty on Dec. 22 and paid a $264 fine, according to court documents.

The medical examiner's office ruled Kwon's death was an accident, and an autopsy determined he died as a result of complications from his injuries.

Hamilton did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Top photo via Shutterstock