Poor Judgment Blamed For Crashes At Darien Intersection

DARIEN, IL — Darien police say poor judgment appeared to have caused two motorcycle crashes at an intersection last year — one of which was fatal.

The police department recently released a report about the intersection of South Frontage Road and Cass Avenue. This was in response to a Darien alderman's request.

According to the police department, both motorcycles were traveling south on Cass well above the speed limit. Neither driver was impaired, police said.

"Generally, when looking at crashes, we take into account the roadway, the vehicle and the driver," the report said. "It does not appear that the roadway or vehicles contributed to the two serious motorcycle accidents. Both were due to the poor judgment of drivers."

From 2015 to mid-2020, 20 crashes happened at the intersection, according to the report.

Alderman Tom Chlystek, who requested the report, said he had a few questions for the police chief about it. He said the intersection could be made safer.

"These numbers show why I'm a little nervous about it," he said.

DuPage County has installed a warning sign on southbound Cass advising drivers about trucks entering the highway.

Opponents of the nearby Sterling Bay warehouse from a couple of years ago are among those who are calling for changes to the intersection. They say when the warehouse reaches full capacity, it could worsen the situation.

They also point to increased use of the nearby Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve as a likely factor in the problem.

The opponents are concerned with semi-trucks exiting from northbound Interstate 55 onto southbound Cass Avenue in Darien. These trucks, they say, must perform three immediate lane changes across Cass to turn left on South Frontage to access Sterling Bay.

In an email, engineer and Darien resident Patrick Donohue, who has expressed concerns about the intersection, said he agreed with police that poor judgment and likely excessive speed were the causes.

He said his instinct was that south Frontage road, from Lemont Road to Cass Avenue, is being used to bypass the heavy slowdown each afternoon on northbound Interstate 55.

"I have often seen many cars waiting at the stop sign to get onto Cass or to cross over it," Donohue said in the email. "This is a dangerous maneuver, crossing over four lanes of Cass traffic to try and save a few minutes off of a commute time There's a lot of pressure to make a quick stop and go at the sign, given that there are many cars behind you, urging you to go."

On May 31, Gina C. Pisano, 31, of Oak Lawn, who was riding a motorcycle, collided with a pickup truck, according to a police report. She died shortly afterward.