Dawn Patrol: 4-year-old girl dies in crash; ‘Green Mile’ actor dies
4-year-old McHenry County girl dies in crash
A 4-year-old McHenry County girl was thrown from her family’s Jeep and killed Sunday night after a car passed through a stop sign and slammed into the vehicle, authorities said. Daniela F. Gomez of Woodstock was pronounced dead on arrival at Centegra Hospital-Woodstock after the crash. Full story.
‘Green Mile’ actor dies after heart attack
Michael Clarke Duncan, the character actor known for his Oscar-nominated performance as a death row inmate in “The Green Mile,” has died at age 54. Clarke, born in Chicago, died Monday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was being treated for a heart attack, said his fiancee, reality TV personality the Rev. Omarosa Manigault, in a statement released by publicist Joy Fehily. The muscular, 6-foot-4 Duncan was a bodyguard before beginning acting in his 30s. He “suffered a myocardial infarction on July 13 and never fully recovered,” the statement said. Full story.
Kane sheriff continues crash investigation
Police say it will be a few weeks before they wrap up their investigation of a weekend crash that killed 17-year-old Lawrence Echols of Elgin and injured another teen. Police are continuing to look into the one-car accident that occurred about 12:50 a.m. Sunday on Plank Road west of Engel Road near Burlington as injured passenger Shadontre Smith, 19, of South Elgin, remains hospitalized in serious condition. Full story.
Planners begin developing Antioch greenway
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is working with Antioch on a “Lifestyle Corridor” plan for a greenway system of walking and bicycling paths between the Chain O’ Lakes and the Des Plaines River. The idea is to close gaps in existing paths, improve access and connect destinations in a corridor that could eventually stretch about 10 miles in Antioch and beyond. The first of what will be monthly meetings of a steering committee is getting the plan under way. Full story.
Man crashes motorcycle, stalls Route 53 traffic
Traffic on southbound Route 53 south of Lake-Cook Road was shut down for about a half-hour Monday afternoon after a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in Palatine, authorities said. Illinois State Police trooper Amanda Griffin said a Wheeling man driving a motorcycle fast crashed about 4:20 p.m., causing him no serious harm but forcing Illinois State Police to shut down southbound traffic on Route 53 while crews responded. Full story.
Weather
Wet and 72 degrees as you walk out the door early this morning. Temperatures will head north to about 85 degrees today, but the muggy air will head along with it. Temperatures will roll back to 70 degrees tonight. Full story.
Traffic
Roadwork remains ongoing at Diehl Road between Route 59 and Raymond Road in Naperville. The construction is expected to continue for the remainder of the week. Full story.
Sox topple Minnesota
Gordon Beckham hit a two-run homer and Hector Santiago won in his first major league start as the White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field. After falling out of sole possession of first place in the AL Central on Sunday night following a 1-6 road trip and being swept by the Tigers, the White Sox won the first of a 10-game homestand. They moved a game up on Detroit, which lost to Cleveland 3-2. Full story.
Cubs try and play spoiler in Washington
Ross Detwiler allowed four hits in seven shutout innings and Adam LaRoche homered Monday, giving the Washington Nationals their first winning season with a 2-1 victory over the Cubs. The NL East-leading Nationals improved to 82-52. The club moved from Montreal to Washington for the 2005 season and went 81-81 that year. In 2008 and 2009, the team lost a combined 205 games, then finished 80-81 in 2011. Full story.
Urlacher back in the saddle again
For the first time in more than a month, middle linebacker Brian Urlacher returned to the practice field Monday, fueling speculation that he will play in Sunday’s regular-season opener against the Indianapolis Colts at Soldier Field. For the 10 minutes that practice is open to the media, Urlacher appeared to move well on his much-scrutinized left knee, which was scoped Aug. 14 with the intent of reducing soreness and swelling. Full story.
Cougars’ season ends with loss
Needing a win and some help to advance to the postseason, the Kane County Cougars were eliminated by the Peoria Chiefs after a 6-2 defeat on Monday afternoon at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva, although neither club scored in the first three innings. The Cougars, who stranded a dozen baserunners, loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh — but Alex Llanos flew out to the warning track in deep left. In the eighth, Justin Trapp singled with two men on base, but Chris Elder was thrown out at home. Full story.