21-Year-Old Charged for Fatal DUI Hit-and-Run in Downtown Chicago

Innocent pedestrian, Jesse Bradley, 32, stepped out for a late night snack around 2:30 a.m. near LaSalle and Division, when he was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver.

Bianca Garcia, 21, had allegedly been driving in her Jeep Liberty two blocks the wrong way down a one-way street. Chicago Police stopped her a few blocks away shortly after the accident when they noticed her vehicle had front-end damage, was missing a headlight, and smoke was rising from the engine. Garcia refused to take a breath test. She and a 20-year-old woman, who was a backseat passenger, also declined medical attention. She was later charged for misdemeanor DUI, reckless driving, and driving without insurance or a driver’s license. She was arrested and her bond was set at $400,000. Bradley was taken to Northwestern and was pronounced dead at 2:54 a.m.

Bradley studied philosophy at Northwestern law school. His younger sister, Laura, who came to Chicago to help her mother with the funeral arrangements stated, “It’s just bizarre. It really shows you how life can change in an instant. He was healthy. He was living. And he died. He should not have died at 32.” His mother stated “He was a wonderful son. He was not suppose to be taken away. Not by somebody who was driving too fast and drinking. He didn’t stand a chance. He was just going to get something to eat across the street.”

Woman Charged in Old Town Fatal Hit-and-Run www.myfoxchicago.com, March 26, 2012 DUI charges following fatal Near North hit-and-run www.chicagotribune.com, March 26, 2012