CHICAGO, IL – A 16-year-old teenager has recently been charged with reckless homicide related to a fatal West Side accident last April that claimed the life of a six-month-old infant, according to police officials. Additionally, the juvenile faces charges of aggravated reckless driving and possession of a stolen vehicle.
The teen remains unidentified because of his minor status. However, he is alleged to have been operating a stolen Hyundai on April 16, 2023, leading to the tragic crash in Chicago’s West Garfield Park neighborhood.
The incident occurred around 5:06 p.m. in the 4400 block of West Washington Boulevard, with surveillance footage capturing the accident in progress. The collision happened in front of Shawn Walker’s residence at Washington and Kostner. In an attempt to salvage the grim situation, Walker administered CPR on the baby until the arrival of emergency services.
Cristian Uvidia, the six-month-old infant, unfortunately, did not survive his injuries, as confirmed by Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. The child’s mother was traveling with him along with his two sisters, aged 7 and 15, at the time of the accident. All three were treated for their injuries at Stroger Hospital.
Police reportedly apprehended two teenage boys, aged 14 and 17, a week after the incident. Each of them received one misdemeanor count of criminal trespassing. Their relatively minor charges have sparked outrage among community activists demanding appropriate legal action. Activist Andrew Holmes addressed the authorities, urging them to consider first-degree murder or reckless homicide charges.
The victim’s family expressed their heartbreak over the incident and voiced their commitment to fight for justice. Contributions for the funeral expenses of the deceased infant are being collected through a GoFundMe set up for Cristian’s family.