Likely distracted, this red light runner on N Narlem Ave thought he wasn’t at fault and just left. Dashcam footage shows otherwise.
Chicagoan and Redditor /u/baldengineer shared dashcam footage from Chicago, IL from earlier this week (Oct 13, 2024) to the /r/IdiotsInCars subreddit showing a driver run a red light by creeping into this N Harlem Ave intersection despite having a stale red.
The driver clips a driver in a Subaru Outback before driving off, feigning responsibility despite video evidence to the contrary.
Check out /u/baldengineer’s dashcam footage below.
[oc] Red lights are optional for this guy. He hit and ran. Told someone that tracked him down: “… but I stopped!”
byu/baldengineer inIdiotsInCars
The incident happened at the intersection of Foster Ave. and N Harlem Ave in Chicago, IL (exact location on Google Maps linked here.)
As OP’s dashcam footage shows, he’s stopped on Foster Ave ready to turn left.
In front of him and highlighted is a driver in a Ford Escape facing a stale red light.
The driver in the Escape just…goes, either distracted or risking it, and drives into the intersection despite having a red light.
A driver in a Subaru Outback with the right of way goes through, but not before getting clipped by the Escape.
Dramatically, the Outback gets pitted and almost tips, sliding upwards onto two side wheels.
Thanks to a Subaru’s Boxer engine and inherent low center of gravity, the Outback avoids rolling.
“The Escape driver pulled into the parking lot ahead of him like nothing happened. Another witness blocked him in and asked WT* he was doing. The driver said: “What’s the problem? I stopped before that crazy guy hit me!”
“Then that witness, myself, and the victim watched as the Escape drove off.”
“I don’t think anyone was injured. The victim driver had a passenger that first responders checked out. I left while that was happening and after I showed my video to the officers–who really seemed to enjoy it.”
If you’re hoping for some instant karma, you won’t be disappointed.
“Oh, the cherry on top? When the police asked the victim if they got the other driver’s license plate, he and I both laughed. It was stuck in the Suburu’s tire well after the impact and fell off as he moved his car.”
“So the victim driver handed the license plate to the officer who just laughed as well. (If you watch the video, you can see it clearly came off.)”
In Illinois, hit-and-runs that cause property damage are classified as Class A misdemeanors, subject to, “possible imprisonment of less than 1 year and a possible fine of no more than $2,500. If the damage you caused is more than $1,000, your driver’s license will be suspended.”
Despite what looks like minor damage, I’m sure a body shop will easily quote more than $1,000 to fix that rear fender damage on a fairly new-ish Subaru Outback.
