COOK COUNTY, Ill. (WGN) – After a long legal battle that stretched over nine and a half years, a Cook County jury has reached a verdict against the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority in connection with a tragic crash that happened on a portion of I-90 on March 25, 2016.
Michael Johnson and Robert Rosa, two survivors of that crash, stood alongside their legal team Friday to announce the verdict.
The crash happened in a construction zone near the Fox River Bridge. One person was killed and five others were seriously injured.
Johnson and Rosa, who were traveling with friends from Madison, Wisconsin, in a limousine, were on their way to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, excited to enjoy a vacation in Mexico.
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It was a trip that was tragically cut short.
The jury found that the Illinois Tollway was negligent, specifically for its role in creating a dangerous designed construction zone that ultimately contributed to the deadly crash.
“A safety plan, an MOT plan required five or six warning signs, advanced warning signs,” attorney Timothy Cavanagh with Cavanagh Sorich Law Group said. “Five of the six signs were omitted.”
Although Johnson and Rosa survived, their lives were forever changed.
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Rosa was left a quadriplegic, requiring 24/7 care for the rest of his life. Once an independent and active person, he know faces a future where even the simplest tasks require assistance.
“I still live in pain 24 hours a day. No amount of money will take that away,” Rosa said.
Johnson and Rosa said this verdict isn’t just about compensation; it’s about accountability.
“I feel like I can finally breathe. Looking forward to moving on,” Johnson said. “Part of the reason we fought, we didn’t want this to happen to anybody else out there. We drive these tollways and we pay to use them and the tollway as the responsibility to keep us all safe.”
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Rosa said his focus is on keeping his body as strong and healthy as possible moving forward.
Despite the challenges, he and Johnson said they plan to continue enjoying life together and making the most of each day.
WGN-TV reached out to the Illinois Tollway for comment, but has not yet heard back.
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