Driver in accident that left a woman dead, six relatives injured says brakes failed during North Park wreck: police

A 78-year-old woman died and six of her relatives, including two children, were injured in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday evening in the North Park neighborhood, Chicago police said.

Shortly before 8 p.m., a 2008 Saturn Aura was heading south on Kimball Avenue when it failed to yield to a 2023 Kia Sorento carrying seven people from Highland, Indiana, that was heading east on Peterson Avenue, police said.

The Saturn broadsided the Kia on its driver’s side, flipping it “upside down,” authorities said. The Saturn’s driver, an 18-year-old West Ridge man, told police officers that his brakes had failed, a Chicago police report said.

The driver of the Saturn, who suffered pain to his neck and back, was taken in fair condition to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. He was arrested at 10:45 p.m., according to the report.

Zainab Suboh, 78, who was a passenger in the Kia, was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston were she was pronounced dead at 8:40 p.m. according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office and police.

Six of her relatives in the Kia were injured, including the driver of the Kia, a 46-year-old man, who was taken in fair condition to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and another passenger, a 36-year-old woman, who was listed in critical condition, the report said.

An 81-year-old man also was taken in critical condition to St. Francis. A 3-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl were taken in fair condition to Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, while a 16-year-old boy was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, the report said.

The driver of the Saturn, who suffered pain to his neck and back, was taken in fair condition to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

No charges have been announced.