22-Year-Old Oak Lawn Man Dies In Crash At Dangerous Intersection

CHICAGO, IL – A 22-year-old Oak Lawn man died in a car crash late Sunday evening at the intersection of 99th Street and Harlem Avenue in Chicago Ridge. The young man was identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner as Malik Aburas.

Around 10 p.m., Chicago Ridge police officers responded to multiple 911 calls about a serious traffic crash with injuries. Officers found two heavily damaged vehicles with multiple people with severe injuries.

Chicago Ridge police and the Bridgeview Fire Department quickly responded, transporting four people with injuries to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

The 22-year-old passenger, identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner as Malik Aburas, of Oak Lawn, succumbed to his injuries shortly after the crash. The driver of the same vehicle suffered minor injuries and is expected to recover. Two people in the second vehicle remain in critical condition, police said.

The intersection of 99th Street and Harlem Avenue was shut down for several hours while the Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team was called to assist with the investigation.

The investigation continues by Chicago Ridge police and SMART . Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Chicago Ridge police say that they understand the community’s ongoing concerns about safety at the intersection of 99th Street and Harlem Avenue. Since December 2023, Chicago Ridge officers have issued 168 traffic citations at the intersection, a majority involving disobeying traffic signals and improper U-turns.

“The Chicago Ridge Police Department urges drivers to remain vigilant and cautious, particularly in high-traffic areas, to help prevent future tragedies,” Chief Jim Jarolimek said in a news release.