CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The parents of 3-year-old Lily Shambrook were bicycling to take Lily to a day camp in Uptown in June 2022.
Lily was riding with her mother.
An attorney for the family, Richard Burke, said a ComEd truck was blocking the bike lane. Lily’s mother was forced to ride into the lane of vehicular traffic, where a Mondelez semi-truck was traveling the same direction.
“Lily, sadly, was run over by the rear wheels of the tractor-trailer truck,” Burke said.
Lily’s parents filed a lawsuit against ComEd, the City of Chicago, Mondelez, and Penske on Tuesday. The corporations — and their drivers — were accused of negligence, while the City was accused of “willful and wanton misconduct.”
The City of Chicago told WBBM it has not been served with the complaint and “does not comment on pending litigation.”
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Attorneys for the family said it would’ve been illegal for Lily’s mother, or any adult, to ride on the sidewalk, even though her passenger was 3 years old.
Christina Whitehouse, who appeared with the attorneys at a news conference, said her organization, Bike Lane Uprising, has documented more than 33,000 bike lane obstructions.
“ComEd has been submitted to our database more than 50 times over the years,” Whitehouse said.
According to a press release from Clifford Law Offices, which is representing the family, ComEd received a permit specifically to stage its vehicles and equipment on Winthrop Avenue — not Leland Avenue, which is where the fatal accident took place.
ComEd released the following statement:
“Our thoughts remain with the family affected by this tragic accident. ComEd has cooperated fully with local authorities, and while we can’t comment on ongoing litigation, our top priority is and always will be the safety of the public and our employee.”
The lawsuit filed by the parents asks for damages.
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