The family of a couple killed in an April 2025 suburban La Grange crash has filed a lawsuit in connection to the collision.
On April 25th, 2025, Brett and Melissa Lane were driving through an intersection at 47th Street and Willow Springs Road when they were hit by a vehicle driven by Bozena Slimak.
She was never charged with a crime, and the newly filed lawsuit focuses on what happened less than a mile away and minutes before the deadly crash.
Police records cited in the lawsuit claim Slimak suffered a medical emergency and hit two cars priro to the crash. It goes on to say first repsonders recognized that she was in a “dangerous medical and mental state,” and documented symptoms consistent with having a seizure.
First responders did not take her keys and she sped away from the scene, leading police to pursue her, according to the suit.
Minutes later, Slimak is accused of running a red light and causing the horrific multi-vehicle crash that killed the Lanes and injured three others.
The couple left behind five children, and their family has filed a lawsuit this week naming the Pleasantview Fire Protection District as a defendant.
In a statement to NBC 5, an attorney for the family writes:
“This has been an incredibly painful time for their loves ones, as they continue to grieve this unimaginable tragedy.We look forward to resolving this matter so the Lane family can begin to move forward and focus on their healing.”
NBC 5 reached out to the Pleasantview Fire Protection District named as one of the defendants in the lawsuit. Chief Tim Griffin said the department cannot comment on pending litigation.
NBC 5 also reached out to Slimak and tried to reach her at her home address on file, but did not receive a response.
