2 others hurt in Humboldt Park car-truck collision
By Rummana Hussain
Chicago Sun Times
Copyright 2006 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Two people, including a 33-year-old emergency medical technician who deejayed at local clubs, died when they were thrown from separate vehicles Christmas morning in a violent accident in Humboldt Park.
Even though he wore a seat belt, Daniel Parry was ejected from the backseat of the 1997 Totoya he and three females were riding in when a speeding pickup slammed into them in the 2800 block of West Augusta, friends said.
Parry was a trained EMT and had dreamed of becoming a firefighter, longtime friend Erin Johnson said. “He was well-known for telling people to wear their seat belts and would make sure the car doors were locked. He was all about safety,” Johnson said.
Also killed in the Monday accident was Megan McMahon, 27, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
Police said McMahon was a passenger in the 1993 Ford F150 pickup, which was traveling west on Augusta at a “high rate of speed” when it crashed into the Toyota, heading north on California.
The impact of the crash caused the smaller vehicle to run into a nearby building, according to Chicago Police Major Accidents Unit.
McMahon also was thrown from the pickup. Two others riding with McMahon apparently got out of the vehicle and tried to flee before they were arrested, police said. No charges had been filed as of Monday evening.
Two other females were treated at Stroger Hospital.
‘KIND-HEARTED’
Parry and his companions had just left a bar, the Continental, 2801 W. Chicago, before the 4 a.m. accident, Johnson said. She thinks he was heading to a friend’s house to spend Christmas.
Parry, of the 700 block of North Damen, wasn’t working as an EMT but would volunteer his services. Recently he paid his own way to tend to Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans, Johnson said.
The Erie, Pa., native, who worked as technical systems installer, also deejayed at clubs, spinning old soul music and reggae. Just this summer, Parry flew to Spain to deejay.
“He really was a kind-hearted person,” Johnson said.