'Just not right': Family of Donald Carter 'heartbroken' as 3 Chicago teen involved in crash that killed auto mechanic, 71, walk free
ILLINOIS, CHICAGO: Three thirteen-year-old Chicago teenagers involved in a crash that killed a 71-year-old man on Sunday, February 12, have been released within 24 hours. The teenagers had stolen a Kia car and crashed into Donald Carter's Ford Taurus which rolled into a ditch.
Robbins Police spokesperson Sean Howard said a Kia with a damaged driver's side window was spotted on Kedzie Avenue at around 2.30 pm on Sunday, February 12. As the officer moved near he discovered Donald injured in another vehicle. He was transferred to the hospital where he eventually died.
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'Heartbreaking. It's my uncle'
Aaron Crutchfield was heartbroken when he discovered it was his uncle. He was driving in the area when he noticed something familiar about one of the vehicles. "I saw a blue car in a ditch, and it looked like his car, but I wasn't sure. I walked up to it, and it was just devastating to see my uncle's car like that. It was in bad shape," Aaron said, adding "Heartbreaking. It's my uncle," ABC 7 reported.
Who was Donald Carter Sr?
Crutchfield said that his retired car mechanic uncle loved his children and grandchildren and had a great sense of humor. "He loved us all. Family reunion time he would - he was like a kid. He loved family reunions. He would be so excited," Crutchfield said. "The way he joked around all the time. He would joke with us all the time. Anytime you brought somebody new around he was crack jokes... 'Uncle is just playing, he ain't mean that. He's just joking with you.'"
13-year-olds involved in crash released within 24 hours
The three 13-year-olds suspected of stealing a car and causing the fatal collision have been released to their parents, according to Robbins police. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office is still developing its case despite the fact that charges are pending, thus they were forced to release the children within 24 hours, they stated in a press conference.
However, Mayor Darren Bryant criticized the state law saying, "The long-term solution needs to be talked about, about how we can get justice for this family and how we can prevent another family from experiencing this situation." Robbins Police Chief David Sheppard said, "I do have faith in the system; unfortunately, I can speak, honestly say, we haven't had the results in Cook County that we would expect that we've previously had."
'Are they walking around acting like nothing happened?'
The family of the victim is heartbroken and furious that the minors can return home and carry on with their regular lives because they have not yet been charged. "There's no reason why they should be at home. My uncle can't go back home. His family can't see him again. It's just not right," Crutchfield said as per the outlet. "I understand that they have their laws, but are they out going to school today? Are they walking around in the community, acting like nothing happened? That's not right. I don't care if they are 13-year-olds," Carter's sister Bertha Olawumi.
