Driver Involved in Fatal Crash With Biker Won't Be Charged: Police

The driver involved in a fatal crash with a Clarendon Hills biker in August won’t face any charges, the Hinsdale police reported this week.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Hinsdale Police Chief Kevin Simpson said Wednesday there wasn’t any evidence the driver, a woman from Aurora, was violating traffic laws when she collided with Pamela French, 55.

“While it was very, very tragic, there was no evidence of any motor vehicle violations,” Simpson said.

The driver was in her Nissan Versa, heading south on Oak Street, when she hit French, who was riding west on Ravine Road. French was taken to the hospital shortly after 7:30 a.m. and died there due to injuries sustained in the crash.

There weren't any stop or yield signs at the intersection where the accident occurred. As a result of the intersection being non-traditional — the roads don’t intersect at 90-degree angles — there are a total of six ways to approach it.

The Hinsdale Police Department evaluated the area and, in October, decided to install yield signs on Ravine Road so motorists and bicyclists would yield to vehicles on Oak Street. Those signs have been installed. Evaluating the area was part of the department’s investigation of the case, which Simpson said has taken so long because he and his policemen were doing their best to be thorough.

He said they evaluated the car, bicycle and other forensic evidence and heard witness statements before making the decision to not charge the driver of the Nissan.

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