Niles Plans to Improve Bicycle Path Crossing at Location of Bicyclist's Death

In a previous post, we detailed the tragic passing of a 39-year-old bicyclist, Jeremy Ghisols. Jeremy was killed while bicycling in Niles near the intersection of the North Branch Trail and Howard Street. Prior to this bicycle crash, the Village of Niles identified the scene of the crash as one where safety improvements—such as flashing beacons, signage, and striping for a crosswalk—would benefit local bikers, pedestrians, and motorists.

Now, according to The Niles Journal, it appears that construction of a bike crossing is finally underway at this spot, no doubt inspired by Jeremy. Currently, there are no signals, signs, or markings whatsoever to indicate where the North Branch Trail crosses Howard Street, making the crossing incredibly dangerous for bicyclists and motorists alike. Soon, however, the new crossing will feature a push-button activated, rapid-flash beacon; advance warning signs; and even ADA-approved warnings and markings to make the crossing as safe as possible for the many bicyclists and pedestrians who use it every day.

While it is certainly a positive step by Niles to include these improvements, it is hard not to consider whether traffic safety infrastructure like this could have made a difference in the bicycle crash that took Jeremy's life. This is why it is important that all cities and the state make efforts to be proactive, rather than reactive. 

If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.

Chicago Bicyclist Killed in Fatal Crash Near North Branch Trail in Niles is Identified

View of westbound Howard Street at the North Branch Trail.

The identity of a North Side bicyclist killed in a bicycle crash with a Mazda Miata has been identified as 39 year old Jeremy Ghisols of North Mulligan Street in Chicago.  The fatal crash occurred last week in Niles near the intersection of the North Branch Trail and Howard Street. At that location, the North Branch Trail runs in a direct North-South direction and Howard Street is a major East-West arterial street.

According to reports, police are still investigating the exact conditions and actions that may have caused  the fatal bicycle accident on July 9th. Niles police have indicated that the bicyclist may have "veered" off the path and was struck by a westbound Mazda. However, "veered" is an interesting verb choice given that the North Branch Trail path runs directly across Howard Street. Most bicyclists on the path therefore cross directly across the trail in a straight line. "To veer" is to change direction suddenly which would be an unusual action for a bicyclist traveling on the North Branch Trail across Howard Street.

However, no other details are available as of yet and no traffic citations have been issued. As of Monday morning, the investigation into the crash by the Niles police department remained ongoing. Niles itself had previously identified this location as one where improvements such as flashing beacons, signage and striping for a crosswalk could be implemented as a part of its multi-modal traffic plan to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The ability of Niles to implement these improvements is reportedly based on obtaining additional funding from the Regional Transportation Authority.

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragic event, especially the family and friends of Jeremy Ghisols.

Chicago Bicyclist Dies After Collision With Motor Vehicle In Niles

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According to news reports, a 72-year-old Chicago bicyclist died Monday morning after a collision between his bicycle and a motor vehicle in Niles. According to the Niles Police Department, the bicyclist, Stanley Lorkiewicz, was riding his bicycle in 7700 block of North Milwaukee Avenue near Jonquil Terrace in the northern suburb when he was struck by a motor vehicle. As the above map indicates, Milwaukee is two lanes headed both northbound and southbound. Jonquile Terrace is a small residential street.

After the collision, Mr. Lorkiewicz exchanged information with the operator of the motor vehicle and the police were called to the scene. Reports indicate that the police described the incident as a "minor accident." Apparently no traffic citations were issued by the Niles Police Department.

However, while the Niles police officers were writing up a report on the incident, Mr. Lorkiewicz collapsed at the scene. There is no indication how much time lapsed between the collision and Mr. Lorkiewicz collapsing. Mr. Lorkiewicz was then taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where he was subsequently pronounced dead at 8:48 a.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner's office.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday. Without the exact results of the autopsy, the precise cause of death is not known. However, the trauma and the shock from the collision clearly played a role in Mr. Lorkiewicz collapsing at the scene. Under Illinois law, a person who causes a collision is liable for all injuries where the collision was a cause of the injury. The collision need not be the sole, exclusive cause of the injury. An example of this scenario is where a person with a heart condition suffers a heart attack due to a relatively minor collision. Even though the collision was minor, it was enough to trigger the heart attack.

This is a very sad and tragic situation. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Lorkiewicz and his family. 

Keating Law Offices is the premiere law firm handling bicycle-related cases in Illinois. The firm is committed to the representation of injured bicyclists and their families. If you have any questions regarding this post or an issue involving Illinois personal injury law, please contact Illinois Bicycle Attorney Mike Keating at 312-208-7702 or MKeating@KeatingLegal.com 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All e-mails and phone calls are returned promptly. All initial consultations are confidential and free.