No subject

Did Collision with Skater Contribute to Woman's Death?

Investigators are trying to figure out if a woman's
collision with an
in-line skater contributed to her death. The collision
happened in the 
2800
block of North Sheffield Friday. The woman died
Thursday, almost one 
week
later.

Joseph Cartagena saw the aftermath of the sidewalk
accident in which an
in-line skater collided with a 66-year-old pedestrian
last Friday. 
Witnesses
say that woman stepped in front of the male skater
moments before they
collided.

"She was just lying there.. Not saying much," said
Joseph Cartagena, 
who
could not see any injuries.

Paramedics took Mercedes Cervera to Illinois Masonic
Medical Center for
treatment. She died early Thursday morning. However,
the medical 
examiner
has not yet determined if Friday's accident played a
role in her death.

Meanwhile, in-line skating advocates say accidents
such as this are 
rare.

"I think something like that is totally a shame. It's
an exception to 
the
rule. We, as skaters, are following the same rules as
bike riders. 
We're
following traffic signals," said Heidi Goldwater,
National Skate 
Patrol.

Alderman Burt Natarus contends skaters should be
separated from 
pedestrians
and vehicular traffic.

"I think we should have skating rinks, tracks, or
pathways for in-line
skating," said Ald. Burton F. Natarus, 42 Ward.

However, for some, skating is more than recreational.

"There are many people who actually commute on skates
and it's a form 
of
transportation," said Goldwater. "I skate downtown all
the time. That's 
my
way of getting to work."

Natarus is considering changes to Chicago's current
ordinances 
governing
in-line skating.

"I don't believe they belong on the sidewalk and I
don't believe they 
belong
on the street," said Natarus.

There are few city ordinances governing skating on
city streets and
sidewalks. Even if a skater were cited, the maximum
fine is $25. Again, 
the
medical examiner has not yet determined if last
Friday's accident 
played a
role in 66-year-old Mercedes Cerveras death. An
autopsy is scheduled 
for
Friday.



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Kick off your party with Yahoo! Invites.
http://invites.yahoo.com/