It happened in south suburban Olympia Fields November 27 in the 600-block of Brookwood Terrace. Prosecutors say a 13-year-old girl was driving the vehicle that the boy and two other friends - another boy and girl - were riding in when the car crashed into a tree.
Almani Kreamer was pronounced dead at Franciscan St. James Health in Chicago Heights. It appears all the occupants in the car were under the age of 16. Police said they believed the driver was speeding.
The girl was charged Friday in juvenile court in Markham with reckless homicide, reckless conduct and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. She was released into the custody of her mother.
"I just want the other children to understand because they were all in the car together," said Regina Anderson, the victim's mother.
The three other victims, including the driver, were transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
Anderson came to the quiet, tree-lined street looking for answers the day after the crash, Thanksgiving.
"What was he saying?" she wondered. "Did he suffer?"
"It's really hard, when this is a day of gratitude, for her I'm sure. So we're here as a neighborhood, as a community," said Beverly Reed Scott, victim's neighbor.
Jim Moroney, a neighbor, rushed to the car after hearing the kids inside screaming for help. Although Almani's mother says he was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Terrell Neely says the group came by his house twice before the accident and that it was no surprise to him to see the girl driving her mother's car.
"A while ago, she said that her mom let her drive on her birthday when it was her birthday a couple months ago, and she said her mom let her drive the car around," Neely said.
