Toddler Died After Mother Squeezed Past Illegally Parked Truck: Report

CHICAGO — The 3-year-old girl who was killed on Thursday when the bike she was riding on the back of collided with a semi-truck died after her mother squeezed by a ComEd truck that was illegally parked in a bike lane, according to a published report.

NBC Chicago, citing a police report, said that the woman operating the bicycle was clipped by the semi-truck, which forced her to lose her balance. The 3-year-old girl, who was wearing a helmet and riding in a child carrier on the back of the bike, died after she was hit by the semi-truck and was dragged for 20 feet, the station reported. The girl's father was following behind his wife and daughter on his own bike.

The child was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified her as Elizabeth Grace Shambrook.

The crash took place just before 8:20 a.m. on Thursday in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. According to the police report, the semi-truck was pulling away from a corner and Leland and Winthrop avenues when it collided with the woman on the bike.

A ComEd spokesperson issued a statement saying that the company is working with police to “understand the circumstances of this tragic accident.”

“The safety and security of ComEd customers and employees is always our top priority, and our thoughts are with the family of the cyclist,” the statement said.

The advocacy group, Bike Lane Uprising said in a social media post that the ComEd truck that was reportedly parked in the bike lane is the "root cause" of the crash. The group also accused the utility of being "repeat bike lane obstructors" and indicated that nothing is being done to change their work patterns.

"ComEd is well aware of this problem & ignores it," the group said in a tweet on Thursday. "Now a 3 yr old is dead."

On Friday, the group called for Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to get involved after the group said that in the past week, a 2-year-old and 3-year-old child have died in the streets.

"The system is broken if elected officials continue to only build & maintain streets for those who have the ability to re-elect them," Bike Lane Advocacy wrote on Twitter.