The families of two college students killed last year in a single-car crash on Lower Wacker Drive filed lawsuits Friday faulting the car’s driver and manufacturer as well as the City of Chicago and Cook County.  Relatives of the two students – Karen Chiang, 19, and Cindy Young Kim, 20, both of Northbrook – alleged driver Tommy Choi was speeding last March when the car carrying all three smashed into a steel barrier in the median.  Choi also died.

The wrongful death lawsuits filed in Cook County Circuit Court contend Choi’s 2004 Mazda RX-8 was susceptible to catching fire, difficult to exit after a crash or had other design defects.  The suits also allege officials failed to implement design changed or safety features on Lower Wacker.

You can read the orginal article here: Chicago Tribune, February 9, 2008

You can read the full press release here: Chiang Statement for Release in Reponse to Media Inquiry (PDF)