Two teenage boys from Chicago have been charged with misdemeanors, following a car crash they were allegedly responsible for last week that resulted in the death of a 6-month-old infant. The teens’ car had been stolen by them.
Two teenage boys, aged 17 and 14, were charged with criminal trespassing, a single misdemeanor offense, in connection to an accident in the West Garfield Park of Chicago.
So, what is a misdemeanor?
A misdemeanor is typically a crime punishable by less than 12 months in jail. Community service, probation, fines, and imprisonment for less than a year are also commonly issued punishments for misdemeanors.
On April 16 at approximately 5 PM, police reported that two teenagers were driving a stolen Hyundai that collided with a Ford pickup truck at the junction of West Washington Boulevard & North Kostner Avenue.
Tragically, 6-month-old Cristian Uvidia passed away in the hospital after being involved in a collision. He suffered a fractured skull after the accident, as reported by the GoFundMe page created for them.
“He suffered from an impact that fractured his skull, causing his brain to swell and eventually killing him,” Annelisse Rivera wrote. “We are devastated, and we are broken. We will miss his sweet smile, as he was a joy to everyone that he met.”
ABC 7 also reported that his 34-year-old mother and two sisters, aged 15 and 7, were hurt and had to receive treatment in a nearby hospital.
Further action may be taken by law enforcement when the investigation is concluded, and the charges against the teenagers could be increased.
As of Sunday night, an authorized representative from the Chicago Police Department said that no additional charges were leveled against the teenage boys.
Rivera called the misdemeanor charges “disheartening” in an interview with Fox 32 Chicago.
“Your however-minutes-long joyride ruined our life completely,” she said.
Apart from the accused, two other teenagers were present in the vehicle but they have not been brought under any legal proceedings.
Recently, teenage delinquency has been on the rise in the city as evidenced by the crash involving a stolen vehicle. The incident serves as an alarming reminder of the concerning trend of juvenile criminal activity.
Chicago is in the midst of a frightening phenomenon – “teen takeovers.” Teens have taken to the streets, clashing with police and disrupting business. These takeovers have caused chaos and disruption in the city, with many businesses suffering as a result of the unrest. The situation has become so dire that local authorities are struggling to contain it.