Two Dead In South Chicago Heights Crash That Set Car On Fire

SOUTH CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — Two people are dead after a car crashed into two light poles and burst into flames Saturday night on Chicago Road.

According to South Chicago Heights police, Darrell Kazee, 46, of Sauk Village, appeared to have lost control of his car while he was speeding on Chicago Road at the 26th Street intersection at about 9:20 p.m. Saturday. The car struck and severed two light poles, then hit a concrete sign base, sending the car spinning before it burst into flames.

A resident who was working in a nearby garage said he heard what he thought was an explosion and saw Kazee through the open driver-side door. He pulled him out of the car and dragged him away from the fire. The resident did not see anyone else in the car, police said.

After the fire was extinguished, authorities found the body of Vernita Clinton, 26, of Chicago Heights, partially under the dashboard. Kazee was taken Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, where he was pronounced dead.

The South Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team assisted in the investigation.