Indian truck driver Kuljit Kang ran over a 23-year-old man in Chicago and then fled the scene instead of helping him.
Another road accident in the US and another Indian name at the centre. On June 24, 23-year-old Sebastian Stone was struck and killed by a pedestrian as he was changing a flat tire on his black Honda on the right shoulder on I-80 near Torrence Avenue.
It has now emerged that the trailer driver was 34-year-old Kuljit Kang, who was using his phone when the accident occurred.
Kang did not stop his car, nor did he file a report
The investigation into the accident revealed that Kang did not stop his car after colliding with Stone. He did not think to help the victim or report the incident to the police. He had just fled the scene and when Illinois State Police troopers arrived, they found Stone dead.A witness provided investigators with detailed information about the tractor trailer involved, including the trailer number, truck number and trucking company, prosecutors said.
The accident occurred around 5:30 a.m. and by 9 a.m., State Police investigators confirmed through license plate reader data that the truck described by the witness was in the area. Kuljit Kang was identified as the driver.
Kang hung up the call
Within two hours, the company owner called Kang about an accident. Kang hung up the call, according to the prosecution report. Police found Kang that afternoon, seized his phone, and obtained dashboard camera footage and other records from the trucking company, prosecutors said.
He was then released while the investigation continued.Through the investigation, state troopers determined that Kang was using his phone when he struck Stone on the highway, and confirmed that he did not stop, render aid or report the accident, according to allegations.Judge Revanda Dos Bell granted the state’s request, noting that Kang drives for a living and that there is no practical way for the court to limit his use of electronic devices while driving.
Kang is charged with reckless homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
Sebastian had just left the house and was heading to work
The victim’s family members said Sebastian had just left home and was headed to work in Elk Grove Village. He stopped when he had a tire problem and while he was at it, he was hit by the tractor. “His car had a flat tire, so he stopped and tried to change his tire when some idiot, without paying attention, hit my brother and drove away.
Like, who does that?’” said his sister, Jordan Stone.Mother Beth Stone said she was able to speak with her son shortly before his death. “I was lucky enough to be able to say ‘I love you’ thirty minutes before he died,” she said. “And I’m grateful for that. I just wish I could hug him. I wanted to hug him so bad and tell him his mother was here.”
