18-year-old dies in W. Chicago crash

Authorities said speed played a factor in a Saturday night crash that killed an 18-year-old West Chicago man and left a 14-year-old seriously injured.

Dan Fulmer of West Chicago died at the hospital about an hour after crashing a vehicle into the side of an SUV Saturday night in a residential area of West Chicago, officials said Sunday.

Police said the accident recreation team has not completed their study of the crash, but it was clear the car was driving at a high rate of speed and had driven through a stop sign when it struck the side of the SUV, causing it to tip onto its side.

The 14-year-old passenger remained hospitalized Sunday night. All three people inside the SUV were injured and taken to Delnor Hospital in Geneva, said West Chicago Sgt. Julio Calabrese.

A preliminary investigation indicated Fulmer was driving south on Gates Street, which police said posts either a 20 or 25 mph speed limit, when he drove through a stop sign at the intersection of Augusta Avenue and struck the SUV at about 6:45 p.m. Augusta Avenue does not have a stop sign at the intersection, according to police.

Fulmer was pronounced dead at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield at 7:50 p.m. Saturday, according to a spokesman with the DuPage County coroner’s office.

Firefighters were forced to extricate passengers in both vehicles, authorities said.

A DuPage County Crash Accident Reconstruction Team’s report of the crash is expected later this week, Calabrese said. He said the roadway was dry at the time.

An autopsy for Fulmer is scheduled for today.

Additional ambulances from Winfield, Wheaton, Geneva and Warrenville were used, officials said.