Schaumburg trustees approve $1.5 million settlement for driver struck by ambulance

Schaumburg trustees Tuesday approved a $1.5 million settlement with a driver who sued the village alleging he’d been seriously injured after being struck by an ambulance running a red light two years ago.

Injured motorist Yousif Youtem filed the negligence lawsuit against the village on May 30, 2024, for the collision that occurred on Feb. 10, 2024.

Youtem’s attorneys couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday.

According to the lawsuit, the ambulance struck the passenger side of Youtem’s 2013 Dodge Ram in the intersection of Rodenburg and Frontage roads in Schaumburg.

The suit claims Youtem entered the intersection on a green light for northbound Rodenburg while the ambulance entered from westbound Frontage while not responding to an emergency or having any of its lights or sirens activated.

Assistant Village Attorney Howard Jablecki said the two sides initially disagreed on some facts, but any disputes ended with the settlement.

The lawsuit filed three months after the crash claimed Youtem had experienced pain and suffering, was “disabled and disfigured,” lost enjoyment of a normal life and had to pay for medical treatment and rehabilitation.

Jablecki said payment of the settlement would come from the village’s liability insurance.

Such settlement payments are related to the budget year in which the incidents occurred and who the village’s insurance carrier was at that time, he added.

The firefighter-paramedic who was driving the vehicle is a 10-year veteran of the department and still employed by Schaumburg.