Police: Parents killed, 6 injured in Robbins drag racing crash

ROBBINS, Ill. (STMW) - Investigators think drag racing caused the south suburban crash that left two parents dead, their three young children injured and three other people hospitalized Thursday night in Robbins.

About 7:40 p.m., witnesses saw a Buick Regal and Nissan Altima racing north on Central Park Avenue when both cars blew a stop sign and collided with a minivan heading west at the intersection of 137th Street, according to Robbins police.

The minivan’s 43-year-old driver, Cherise Davis-Jones, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she died at 8:50 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Her 59-year-old husband, Less Jones, was in the front passenger seat and taken to MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, where he was pronounced dead at 8:45 p.m., authorities said. They were from the 13400 block of South Hamlin in Robbins.

Their three children in the back seat — ages 4, 7 and 8 — were taken to Christ Medical Center with injuries ranging from bruises to a broken leg, police said.

The Buick driver’s condition was stabilized at Christ as well, and a passenger was taken in critical condition to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, police said.

The Nissan’s driver declined medical treatment at the scene and was held by police for questioning. A passenger in that car was treated and released from Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, police said.

No charges had been filed as of Friday night as Cook County sheriff’s officers assist Robbins police with the investigation.