For Immediate Release from the Office of the Director of Public Safety
May 5, 2022
Fatal Accident Investigation
Update
Incident Information:
On Saturday April 30th 2022 at approximately 8 PM, Riverside Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to the area of First Avenue (Illinois Route 171), south of Waubansee for the vehicle accident with injuries. Responders were advised by our dispatch center that there were multiple individuals that were injured and a person was trapped in a vehicle. This incident was upgraded to an extrication response and additional ambulances and rescue equipment were called to assist. As responders arrived on scene, they observed two vehicles with extensive damage and a front seat passenger trapped in the vehicle. Riverside FD crews arrived on scene and began to extricate the trapped individual. Lyons and McCook FD crews assisted with the extrication. The front seat passenger was extricated from the vehicle at 8:25 PM. Due to the number of individuals that were injured, an ambulance Box Alarm was requested through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) which brought in an additional 5 ambulances to the scene. All the injured were transported to MacNeal and Loyola Hospitals for treatment. The assisting ambulances responded from: Lyons, North Riverside, Brookfield, Berwyn and Pleasantview Fire Protection District.
The West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force (WESTAF) Major Crash Investigation Team was called to assist with the accident reconstruction.
The deceased victim has been identified as Samantha Nieves, age 23 from Summit Illinois.
Incident Update:
As a result of the investigation into this incident, it was determined through witness accounts and the accident reconstruction, that the cause of this accident was excessive speed and an impaired driver. The offending vehicle driver, Luis Duran, who resides in Chicago was arrested by Riverside Police upon his discharge from Loyola Hospital. He was then transported to the Central Lock-up Facility where he was charged with the following offences:
- Aggravated driving under the influence alcohol/drugs
- Reckless homicide
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol
- Reckless driving
- Driving with a revoked drivers’ license
- Speeding more than 35 mph over the speed limit
- Operating an uninsured motor vehicle
- Illegal transporting/carrying open alcohol
- Failure to wear a seatbelt
- Failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident
Mr. Duran will be attending a bond hearing at the Cook County 4th District Court House in Maybrook on May 5th 2022.
Director of Public Safety Buckley asks everyone operating a vehicle to refrain from driving while under the influence and to exercise due care and obey the speed limit. Tragedies like this are preventable, we must all do our part.
Any inquires may be directed to Matthew Buckley, Director of Public Safety at 708-447-2700 ext. 306.