Premature Baby Boy Delivered After Chicago Mom Killed

October 22, 2009 by Cathy Ribble
Filed under: News

Kim Brown was killed yesterday when she was struck by a van while walking on a sidewalk near a Chicago intersection, and her premature baby boy delivered after her death is in extremely critical condition.

The collision began when one van ran a red light and collided with a second van. The second van was struck with such force that it went over the curb onto a sidewalk striking Brown and her friend, Jennifer Cole. Cole’s two children were with her, but no information is available concerning whether they were injured. The accident happened so quickly there was no time for the women to respond.

Kim Brown, 27, was the mother of five children. She was in her sixth or seventh month of pregnancy.

When firefighters and paramedics arrived on the scene they immediately recognized that Brown was well into a pregnancy. They determined that her injuries were “devastating”. She only had a faint pulse and very labored breathing. After triaging the other patients, they made Kim Brown and her unborn child their priority. Paramedics continued CPR all the way to the hospital, but she died shortly after arriving at the hospital. Doctors then delivered her baby boy by C-section.

“Obviously there are challenges when a baby is premature. But these challenges are exacerbated by the fact that there were a number of injuries the baby sustained in the accident,” said Marcel Bright, Stroger Hospital spokesperson.

Jennifer Cole remains hospitalized, but she is expected to recover.

James Cox, the 39-year-old driver of the van, faces several traffic citations, including running a red light and driving without insurance and on a suspended license. It is unknown what charges, if any, will be sought concerning Kim Brown’s death.