2 killed, 2 seriously hurt when SUV strikes tree in Washington Park

One person was ejected from the SUV and the others had to be extricated from the car.

SHARE 2 killed, 2 seriously hurt when SUV strikes tree in Washington Park
Chicago Firefighters attempt to rescue a person inside a wrecked SUV, in Washington Park, Monday, March 21, 2022. Two people were killed and two people were critically injured in the crash.

Chicago Firefighters attempt to rescue a person inside a wrecked SUV, in Washington Park, Monday, March 21, 2022. Two people were killed and two people were critically injured in the crash.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

A man and woman were killed, and two others were seriously injured, in a crash in Washington Park on the South Side Monday night.

A red SUV was traveling at a high rate of speed in the 600 block of East Morgan Drive when the driver side-swiped a silver Chrysler sedan, then veered off the road and struck a tree around 8:30 p.m., Chicago police and fire officials said.

One person was ejected from the SUV and three had to be extricated from the car, Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioner Donald Walker told reporters at the scene.

A male driver and a woman were pronounced dead at the scene, police said. They were identified as Edjuan Pool, 18, and Taylor Smith, 20, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

Two men, 21 and 19, were removed from the back seat and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in serious to critical condition, Walter said.

The driver of the Chrysler refused transportation to a hospital.

The Latest
The 2023 “State of Black Chicago” report spells out the disparities Black residents face in the city when it comes to health, wealth, education and more.
Concerts by Taylor Swift have cut off driving access to Northerly Island for multiple days around this weekend.
Eight-year-old Cooper Roberts was left paralyzed from the waist down after the Highland Park July 4 parade shooting.
Following an upheaval at St. Rita this spring where teammates left and the head coach departed, Morez Johnson is headed to Thornton.
Art
Some of the pop artist’s best-known works go on display at Cleve Carney Museum.