Driver Flashed His Lights, Hit The Gas, Before Crashing Into Another Vehicle At Chicago Ridge Intersection
CHICAGO RIDGE, IL — New details emerged about a fatal crash during a Bridgeview man's pre-detention hearing Friday,
Nooraldein Ghnaimat, 19, appeared before Cook County Judge William McKay at the Bridgeview courthouse on felony charges of aggravated DUI causing death, aggravated DUI causing great bodily harm and reckless homicide.
Just before 10 p.m. Aug. 31, a witness observed a red Toyota Camry speeding northbound on Harlem near 99th Street, tailgating another vehicle, prosecutors said. According to a witness, the driver of the Toyota Camry, later identified as Ghnaimat, swerved and cut off the vehicle it was tailgating.
A Kia turning from Harlem on to 99th Street was in the intersection. The prosecutor said Ghnaimat flashed his lights at the Kia but did not brake. Surveillance video and the witness's account showed the Toyota's bumper plowing into the passenger side of the Kia.
Both vehicles were in the intersection on a yellow light. Vehicle data clocked Ghnaimat's speed at 75mph in a 40mph speed zone, five seconds prior to the crash.
The man and woman in the Kia were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center with critical injuries. Ghnaimat's front-seat passenger, 22-year-old Malik Aburas, of Oak Lawn, died of his injuries.
The prosecutor said the woman driving the Kia suffered neck and back fractures. The man suffered multiple fractures and internal injuries. He was intubated upon his arrival in the ER and remains in a medically induced coma.
Early the next morning, the prosecutor said Ghnaimat' was interviewed by police and consented to a blood draw. Chicago Ridge police also subpoenaed the vehicle's black box data.
On Sept. 12, lab results came back for Ghnaimat's blood draw. According to the prosecutor, the results indicated the presence of 20 nanograms of THC, four times the legal limit of 5 nanograms.
Ghnaimat was taken into custody Wednesday when he went to the Chicago Ridge police station to retrieve his personal belongings that were in his vehicle.
The prosecutor told the judge that Ghnaimat was charged with aggravated speedin twice in 2024, including driving 91mph in a 35mph speed zone, and 89mph in a 55mph speed zone, both of which were knocked down from felonies to "petty offenses."
"The defendant is charged with a detainable offense," the prosecutor said. "We have two passengers in the opposite vehicle, one in a medically induced coma."
"He got a break twice before and he still didn't learn anything but just kept on speeding," the prosecutor added. "He's shown a complete disregard for other people's safety, and he's doing it under the influence of drugs."
The assistant public defender said Ghnaimat is distraught over the loss of his best friend. She told the judge Ghnaimat is taking criminal justice classes at Moraine Valley and works full-time at a grocery store.
Ghnaimat was the victim of a recent violent gang battery and has had to seek therapy for PTSD. The assistant public defender said the alleged attackers all pleaded guilty.
"We believe with no drinking, no drug use and house arrest for this young man, he should be able to go back to his family," the assistant public defender said.
The prosecutor argued that there was no way to monitor if Ghnaimat gets behind the wheel or his conduct if on electronic monitoring or a GPS tracker.
"It wasn't an accident when he took drugs and decided to get behind the wheel," the prosuector said. "These are the consequences of his reckless conduct so no one else could be hurt by his reckless conduct."
Judge McKay said the victims in the other vehicle weren't so lucky.
"Neither victim will ever be the same," the judge said. The actions of the defendant are nothing short of outrageous, dangerous conduct."
The judge ordered Ghnaimat to be detained in Cook County Jail while his case is pending. Ghnaimat is due back in court Oct. 9 at Bridgeview.
