(Above) A race between two cars on Lower Wacker early Saturday morning, that ended with a fatal crash, started at the far right on this map and ended near the far left. (Click on image to view larger version.)

21-Jul-15 – A fatal car wreck on Lower Wacker Drive over the weekend happened shortly after a police crackdown on drag racing had concluded for the night.

It happened on the river-level Lower Wacker, west of State Street, at about 4:20 on Saturday morning.

20-year-old Jose Luviano died when his 1999 BMW 328i crashed into a concrete column, reportedly while racing with 18-year-old Ivan Sanchez in his 2005 Jeep Laredo.

On Monday, 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly told constituents he has been trying for at least two months to curb weekend drag racing that has become popular on Lower Wacker. He says he received recommendations from Chicago Department of Transportation on Friday afternoon and on the same day, approved funding for new barricades, speed bumps, and signs. Reilly says CDOT told him the changes would be installed this week.

Eight Chicago police squads were assigned to stake out Lower Wacker and write citations for reckless driving.

“The mission lasted from late evening Friday until 3 a.m. on Saturday,” says Reilly, “resulting in a number of citations being issued.”

Luviano and Sanchez were driving westbound on Lower Wacker at about 50 miles per hour, both running a red light at Lower Michigan. One vehicle then swerved in front of the other, clipping its front end and sending both vehicles into the column. Luviano was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Sanchez (left), who lives north of the Loop on West Bryn Mawr Avenue and suffered only minor injuries, was charged with one felony count of reckless homicide, one felony count of aggravated DUI, four misdemeanor counts of DUI, and various traffic citations.

“It was a senseless tragedy that could have and should have been avoided,” said Reilly. “And to those who still think drag racing is a crime without consequences, I’d encourage them to again review the details of this horrific incident and understand the profound impact this drag racing tragedy is now having on the Luviano and Sanchez families.”

Reilly is also preparing to introduce new ordinances at the City Council meeting on July 29 to make a stretch of Lower Wacker a “no cruising zone” and ban parking, standing, or stopping late at night.