Driver, Passenger Killed In West Side Crash On New Year's Day

CHICAGO (STMW) -- A driver and a passenger were killed in a crash early New Year's Day in the West Garfield Park neighborhood.

Crews responded about 4:45 a.m. to the crash in the 4500 block of West Lake Street, Fire Media Affairs spokesman Juan Hernandez said.

The driver, 29-year-old Holland Richardson, was heading westbound when the vehicle crashed into a light pole, authorities said.

Richardson and Jasmine Payne, 26, were killed in the crash, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.

Richardson, of the 4900 block of West Race Avenue, and Payne, of the 1000 block of North Waller Avenue, were both taken to Loyola University Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead at 7:30 a.m., according to the medical examiner's office.

Another woman was ejected from the car and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, Hernandez said.

Autopsies for Richard and Payne Thursday were inconclusive pending the police investigation.

The police Major Accidents Investigations Unit is investigating.