By MATTHEW HENDRICKSON
Chicago Sun-Times Wire
An SUV is smashed on a parkway following a fatal collision with a postal truck early Saturday on the West Side. | Network Video Productions
A drunk driver is facing several charges after his passenger, Sydni Murray, was killed in a crash with a U.S. Postal Service truck early Saturday in the West Garfield Park neighborhood, according to police.
Jimmy Payton | Chicago Police
Jimmy Payton, 27, has been charged with reckless homicide, two counts of aggravated DUI in an accident causing death, and two counts of aggravated DUI in an accident causing bodily harm, all felonies, according to Chicago Police. He was also charged with one misdemeanor count of DUI and cited for disobeying a red light.
The crash happened about 3:20 a.m. in the 3800 block of West Congress when Payton failed to stop his SUV at a red light and collided with the mail truck, police said.
His passenger, the 31-year-old Murray, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He lived in of the 600 block of North George in northwest suburban Bensenville
An autopsy Saturday found Murray died from multiple blunt force injuries in the crash, and his death was ruled an accident, according to the medical examiner’s office.
The front of a USPS truck is damaged after a fatal West Side crash early Saturday. | Network Video Productions
Both drivers were taken to Stroger Hospital, where Payton was listed in critical condition and the postal truck driver’s condition was stabilized, police said.
Payton, of the 2900 block of North Ridgeway, appeared in bond court Monday and was ordered held on $275,000. He is next scheduled to appear in court Aug. 5, according to court records.