Des Plaines crash kills father, daughter after SUV driver loses control, crashes into building

DES PLAINES, Ill. (WLS) -- A father and daughter killed after they were struck by an SUV in Des Plaines have been identified, police said.

Des Plaines police identified the victims as Neal Greenfield, 80, of Skokie and his daughter, 41-year-old Kimberly Karsen of Arlington Heights.

Crews continued to clean up debris Monday morning, sweeping up shattered glass and breaking down splintered wood from the business that got hit.

Detectives were back at the scene Monday to gather evidence and talk to business owners hoping to find some surveillance video.

The crash occurred at around 12:15 p.m. Police said a 71-year-old man was behind the wheel of a Honda SUV driving westbound on Northwest Highway in Des Plaines.

That's when, police said, out of nowhere the driver swerved across lanes and struck a business. Police said the driver claimed to be suffering a medical emergency.

Greenfield and Karsen were walking to their car after leaving the L&L Snack Shop when they were hit and taken to the hospital, where they later died.

Witnesses who ran for safety said the driver seemed to have lost control of the vehicle.

"I'm on the sidewalk walking and I see the car swerving in and I start running a little bit, I'm a little scared," witness Benjamin Tate said. "They crash and then my heart drops."

One restaurant owner next door to the crash said he is worried about speeding down Northwest Highway.

"We really suggest at the city, the county to lower the speed limit and have a little more police," Via Roma owner Alessandro Forti. "Because lately, this road was closed for several months. But the speeding is a problem."

Police said the driver was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was traveling with two children in the car, who were not hurt, police said.

"It's unfortunate. It's one of those things that, as responders, we have to kind of come and try to do the best we can. And, our personnel were out there. They did the best they could to give them a chance," said Deputy Chief Matt Matzl, with the Des Plaines Fire Department.

The force of the impact shattered the windows of a restaurant next door and ruptured a gas line, forcing neighboring businesses to evacuate for some time while NICOR crews worked to secure the area.

The gas has since been shut off, Matzl said.

Police said there is no evidence that drugs or alcohol were involved. Police said the driver is not facing charges at this time and an investigation is ongoing.