The blizzard of '79

[Peanuthead]

This recent cold weather has got me thinking of other harsh conditons we've had and it brought to mind the blizzard of '79 and one particular incident that occurred. A snowplow operator went berserk on the Dan Ryan Expressway and crushed several cars killing the passengers. Claimed he was under strss from working too much overtime. (poor baby) Never heard any more about it. Did he go to trial? Was he convicted? Do any time? Was the city sued by families of the victims? Any info or a link?

[Mr Downtown]

Snowplow operator Thomas Blair pled guilty later that year to a charge of reckless homicide and was sentenced to 90 days in Cook County Jail.

On Jan. 24, 1979, he smashed into several cars on surface streets, then entered the Dan Ryan at 87th and smashed into a car stopped in a traffic jam near 95th. He then struck five more cars before rolling over a car and killing the passenger. A July 31, 1979 Chicago Tribune story notes that Blair had worked 20 hours without a rest and had worked 150 hours during the previous nine days. The story variously describes the rig as a "snowplow" and as a "road grader."

[Peanuthead]

90 days! Now that is a crime. He must've used all that overtime money to bribe the judge.
Thanks for the update.