Ashanti Gates (21) of Chicago has been arrested in connection to a crash that left to recent high school graduates dead. She is charged with two counts of aggravated DUI as well as two counts of reckless homicide and one count of child endangerment.
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At approximately 3:04 a.m., troopers responded to a multi vehicle crash in the outbound lanes near Damen Avenue in Chicago. A white Toyota sedan was parked with hazard lights on. The three occupants exited the vehicle to change the tire. At this time, a black Hyundai Sonata driven by Gates struck the parked car and two of the car’s occupants who were changing the tire.
The two victims, 18-year-old Erik C. Cox of Rolling Meadows and 18-year-old Shaelyn M. Sherwood of Hoffman Estates, were pronounced dead at the scene. The third occupant of the sedan was not struck.
The chaotic scene that left two high school deceased
“I feel like my guts spilled out of me. Doubled over,” Sherwood’s father, Devan Sherwood, told NBC Chicago. “I ran to her room. Looked all around. Her shoes were there, her slippers were there. She was not there.”
A 4-year-old boy was among five occupants inside the Hyundai driven by Gates. Gates, the child and one other occupant were taken to local hospitals for treatment.
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Gates is currently being held in Chicago police custody.
