Driver cited in crash that led to death of Buffalo Grove HS security guard

An Elmwood Park woman was cited for three traffic violations as a result of the April crash that led to the death of a Buffalo Grove High School security guard Orlando Rivas, police said.

The 41-year-old woman was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash, failure to exercise due care, and driving on a sidewalk, according to police.

She is scheduled to appear in a Cook County courtroom Thursday morning.

Rivas, 52, had worked as a security guard at Buffalo Grove High for only about eight months when, on the afternoon of April 21, a car leaving the school parking lot left the roadway and struck a pole.

Rivas was protecting students when the pole fell on him, inflicting a traumatic brain injury. He died three days later at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.

Rivas’ death sparked an outpouring of grief from the school community and tributes from the high school and the village of Buffalo Grove.

Buffalo Grove Police Chief Brian Budds and his department posthumously recognized Rivas with the Citizen Award for Valor at a June village board meeting.

Last week, a fundraiser hosted by radio personality and former White Sox outfielder Ron Kittle was held at Finn McCool’s Irish Sports Pub for Rivas, whose father was a longtime White Sox chef.