Woman Charged In Deadly I-57 Crash: Baby Boy & 4 Toddlers Weren't In Child Safety Seats, State Police Say

HARVEY, IL — A Hazel Crest woman faces reckless homicide and aggravated DUI charges in connection with a weekend crash that killed a 6-month-old boy and injured several other passengers.

The baby and four other toddlers in the car were not in child safety seats, Illinois State Police said Wednesday,

At 5:46 p.m. Sept. 6, state police responded to a crash on I-57 northbound near 147th Street in Harvey.

Police said a red Ford SUV driven by Latasha Hope, 33, drove off the roadway and struck a light pole. Hope, another adult woman, four toddlers, and one infant were all taken to an area hospital with varying levels of injury. The infant—Dakari Lomax, of Chicago—was later pronounced dead.

Hope was charged Tuesday with reckless homicide, aggravated DUI involving death and child endangerment resulting in death, state police said.

Hope was released from the hospital and taken into custody pending her first court appearance.