Teen Killed in Drag Racing Accident

 Posted on July 13, 2013 in Personal Injury

According to CBS Chicago, a night of teenage drag racing turned fatal. Lake County Coroner reported that a 16-year-old Antioch teen was riding in the back seat of a vehicle that crashed. The black Honda Civic was driven by Jeremy Betancourt was racing a Ford Focus when he lost control of the vehicle. It is believed that the car went airborne before rolling over. Four occupants in the vehicle were all ejected. The 16-year-old teen was pronounced dead at the scene while the other three were taken to local hospitals; one in serious condition and the other two sustained nonlife-threatening injuries. The driver of the Honda, Betancourt, and the driver of the Ford, Michael Dawson, have both been arrested. Betancourt has been charged with reckless homicide and aggravated street racing. Dawson was charged with aggravated street racing and he was also given a citation for having expired registration on his vehicle. Both are being held in the Lake County Jail on bonds of $250,000 each. There is still further investigation pending regarding the accident. Drag racing is illegal and as evidenced by this and countless other tragic accidents, very dangerous. If you or a family member has been injured due to the negligence of another driver, an aggressive and knowledgeable Illinois personal injury attorney can assist you with your case. Your attorney will use the accident investigation reports as well as witness accounts to prepare the best case for you. You may be eligible to ask for financial compensation for property damage, medical bills, loss of life or injury, as well as punitive damages. Many people mistakenly think that they do not have any legal recourse outside of filing an insurance claim. If you have questions regarding your rights, your attorney can answer all of those questions for you.