2 accidents within hours near same Des Plaines crosswalk

DES PLAINES, Ill. (WLS) -- Two bicyclists were struck by a car in northwest suburban Des Plaines Thursday afternoon on a crosswalk where a pedestrian was also struck about a couple hours earlier.

A total of three people were injured in the two incidents, and two of the victims reportedly in critical condition. The crosswalk in question is heavily-traveled because it leads to a Metra stop.

"She was screaming. The victim was screaming, and I was trying to, I was like, 'You're fine. You're fine,'" said Adriana Losacco, a witness.

Losacco works at a coffee shop near that crosswalk. She said that around 4 p.m., she rushed to help a 13-year-old girl who'd been knocked off her bike by a car. She said the impact shattered the car's windshield.

"All I saw was a head injury, from what I could tell. The cop kept telling her not to move because they didn't know how extensive it was," Losacco said.

Another 13-year-old girl she was riding with was also struck. She reportedly suffered minor injuries.

Police had already been on the scene in front of the Des Plaines Metra stop. A couple of hours earlier, a 69-year-old woman was hit by a car while walking in the same crosswalk. A sign tells drivers to yield to pedestrians at the marked crosswalk.

The woman was thrown several feet and was not responsive afterwards, according to a witness who works on the block. Police said she was taken to Lutheran General Hospital.

"The problem is that people don't yield to the signs. There's signage everywhere, and sometimes people just assume you're going to stop," said John Grammatis, owner of Miner Street Tavern.

"Every time we walk across this crosswalk, cars are skidding. They're either skidding to stop, or they don't see me, and I've got to grab my dogs, pull them back," said Joe Peterson, a nearby resident.

Both the 88-year-old woman behind the wheel in the first incident and the female driver involved in the second crash remained at the scene.

Now, some are questioning if more than these signs are needed.

"Something. Maybe a big flashing light, maybe, in the middle of the road. Something monstrous," Peterson said.

Nearby residents say this crosswalk isn't new. It was built about two or three years ago, and before that people were jaywalking and dodging traffic.