By Fran Spielman
Chicago Sun Times
Copyright 2006 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.
All Rights Reserved 

The son and daughter of a 70-year-old woman run over and killed by a Chicago Fire Department SUV accused a veteran firefighter on Tuesday of driving too fast for the rainy conditions.

Carrie Boston was crossing South Chicago Avenue — heading for a pharmacy across the street from the senior citizens building where she lived — when she was hit by a marked Ford Expedition carrying the Fire Department's 6th District deputy chief and his driver.

The accident occurred about 6:30 p.m. Monday in the 9200 block of South Chicago. Boston was reportedly dressed in dark clothing and carrying a black umbrella when she stepped off the center median and into the path of the SUV, which was not on an emergency call and did not have its emergency lights or sirens activated.

'BOOM, BOOM'

On Tuesday, Boston's son and daughter accused the 25-year veteran firefighter driving the SUV of going too fast for the slick conditions — especially in front of a senior citizens building where crosswalk signs warn motorists wheelchairs may be present.

"He had to be going too fast when he hit her because he knocked her straight in the air," said Boston's daughter Belinda Jackson.

"You've got people in wheelchairs and on crutches going across. There are signs with pictures of wheelchairs. You would expect someone who's trained [in public safety] to be a little more cautious than a drunk driver."

Maurice Boston, the dead woman's son, said a resident of the building witnessed the accident and told him the Fire Department vehicle "had to be going too fast."

"He said it sounded like, 'boom, boom.' She went over the car and hit the ground. If he was going at a reasonable speed, she would have slid under the car," Maurice Boston said.

"I blame the negligence of the Fire Department driver. I don't buy that she stepped in front of the vehicle. Her jacket was dark, but it also had yellow and red in it. If he was going at a reasonable speed, he would have seen her and stopped."

'AT OR BELOW' SPEED LIMIT

Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford insisted the SUV was driving "at or below" the posted speed limit of 30 mph when Boston was struck.

SIGN'S LIGHTS NOT WORKING

Langford would not identify the driver, except to say he is a 25-year veteran firefighter with a clean driving record who passed a Breathalyzer test after the accident. Apparently shaken by the fatal accident, the driver is now "taking some time off," Langford said.

"Witness reports indicate that she stepped right into the path of the vehicle. She may not have seen the vehicle coming as she stepped [off the median] and continued crossing the street to the other side where the pharmacy was located," Langford said.

"It's a tragic accident. Our members do all they can to preserve life and, in this case, a tragic accident caused a loss of life. We're all deeply saddened. The commissioner is particularly saddened because a department vehicle was involved in an accident and a citizen was killed."

Belinda Jackson said the crosswalk has blinking yellow lights, but they were not working at the time of the accident. Transportation Department spokesman Brian Steele said the solar-powered lights are designed to work from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 2 to 4:30 p.m.