The husband of a Chicago actress killed in September when she was hit by a falling tree while biking in Winnetka is suing the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
Molly Glynn, who had a recurring role on NBC’s “Chicago Fire” and performed in many of the city’s theaters, died Sept. 6 after she was hit by a part of a falling tree at a north suburban forest preserve the day before, according to relatives and police.
About 3:40 p.m. on Sept. 5, the 46-year-old was riding a bike on Forest Preserve Trail in Erickson Woods — near Interstate 94 and Willow Road — during a thunderstorm when a tree fell on her, Cook County Sheriff’s officials said at the time.
Her husband was with her and called 911, officials said. She was taken to the NorthShore Evanston Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 12:45 p.m. the next day, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
An autopsy found that she died of multiple injuries from being struck by a falling branch and her death was ruled an accident.
Joe Foust, Glynn’s husband and the administrator of her estate, filed the lawsuit Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court, claiming forest preserve officals knew that “there were trees, shrubs and vegetation” along the bike path that were “diseased, defective, weakened and presented a risk of harm” to people using it.
The four-count suit claims negligence and seeks an unspecified amount in damages plus court costs. A representative for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County could not be reached for comment Thursday evening.
BJ Jones, artistic director of Northlight Theatre, where Glynn had most recently been seen in “Tom Jones” and “The Odd Couple,” called Glynn “a beautiful leading lady with character actress abilities and extraordinary range.”
