17-Year-Old Driver Tests Positive for Marijuana Following Fatal Crash That Killed a Pedestrian

Dorian Williams, 17, the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed a father who was celebrating his 32nd birthday and injured three other people in Avalon Park on Tuesday night, has been charged with aggravated DUI, reckless homicide and leaving the scene of an accident.

At the time of the accident, Williams was being followed by Chicago police after he ran a stop sign. Prosecutors say that marijuana was found in his system and he had no driver’s license. He also allegedly ran through six stop signs before his 2013 Jetta was hit by another vehicle, which caused him to strike the pedestrians at the southwest corner of Blackstone Avenue and 83rd Street.

His car then crashed into a porch close to the intersection. He crawled through his broken passenger-side window and attempted to run away. Police located him just one block from the scene hiding in someone’s backyard.

According to police, Eugene Ratcliff was on his way to a gas station at the corner with two friends before heading out to celebrate his birthday when Williams’ car hit them around 8:30 pm. Ratcliff was killed, one companion suffered a pelvis and broken hip and remains in the hospital and the other was treated at the hospital and later released, said the Assistant State’s Attorney Heather Kent.

Tactical officers witnessed Williams run a stop sign at 83rd Street and Drexel Avenue and they activated their lights and attempted to stop him. According to police spokesman Adam Collins, there was never an active pursuit and police then turned off their lights after Williams sped off at approximately 40-50 mph in a 30-mph zone.

Officers continued to follow Williams’ car and saw as he turned on Blackstone Avenue and ran another stop sign. His car was immediately hit on the rear driver’s side by a Pontiac Sunfire driven by a 49-year-old woman who was trying to avoid an accident. It was then that Williams struck the pedestrians.

After he was captured, Williams tested positive for marijuana and police found the drug in the center console of his car. According to prosecutors, Williams has already admitted in a videotaped interview with police that he fled police and ran the stop signs. He is ordered held on $500,000 bail.