Driver In Crash That Killed Joliet Woman At River North Bars Hours Before Accident

CHICAGO, IL — The Joliet woman who was the passenger in a horrific, high-speed crash early Monday had been to several River North bars before the fatal accident, along with the driver of the vehicle, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Alejandra Damian, 21, of Joliet, died after the car she was riding in slammed into a utility pole, splitting in half and catching fire in the 400 block of West Ontario Street. Later, Anthony Milder — the 34-year-old driver who had fled the accident scene — was found dead in his Bucktown apartment after hanging himself with a belt, the report added.

Hours before the accident, Milder, who worked at the River North bar Underground, reportedly posted an update to his Facebook page saying he was at Bottled Blonde at around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 25. A manager at the watering hole told the Sun-Times that Milder and Damian had been at the controversial establishment, but it's not known how long the pair were there. The manager also said other people had mentioned the two spending time at several other nightspots in the River North neighborhood. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Joliet. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

More Patch Coverage:

• Woman Killed After Car Splits In 2, Catches Fire In River North Crash
• Victim Of River North Crash Identified; Driver Dead In Suspected Suicide

Damian, whose Facebook page mentions her working as a cocktail waitress at several River North clubs, was a student at DePaul University studying public relations and advertising. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help Damian's family pay for funeral expenses. So far, it has earned more than $17,000 of its $20,000 goal.

The crash is being investigated by the Major Accidents Unit of the Chicago Police Department.

More via the Chicago Sun-Times

Alejandra Damian (Image via GoFundMe)

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