Chicago Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for 2009 Car Crash That Killed a Woman and Injured a 6-Year-Old Child

A Chicago man who plowed into and killed a woman and severely injured her young child as he fled from police after a traffic stop was sentenced to a total of 40 years in prison today, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Ralph Eubanks, 35, who tested positive for various drugs in his system including cocaine and marijuana, killed Maria Worthon, 48, and critically injured her six-year-old son with his vehicle as he traveled at excessive speeds during the crash which occurred on Dec. 21, 2009.  Eubanks had previously been convicted by a Cook County jury on the counts of First Degree Murder, Aggravated DUI and Failure to Report to An Accident.

According to prosecutors, on the date of the murder Eubanks was driving without headlights in the area of Greenview and Howard on Chicago’s North Side.  Chicago Police officers observed the defendant and pulled him over.   The defendant stopped the vehicle but as the officer’s approached his car on foot, Eubanks fled the scene at a high rate of speed.

According to prosecutors, Eubanks was driving at approximately 70-80 miles per hour when he struck the victims with his car a few minutes later as they were walking together in a residential area near the 700 block of North Greenview.  Upon impact, Worthon’s body hit the windshield and she was thrown in the air, landing more than 100 feet from where she was initially hit by the defendant’s car.  She suffered massive fatal head injuries. The six year-old child sustained life threatening injuries including swelling on the brain, brain contusions, skull fractures, facial fractures and broken bones.  The victim continues to suffer seizures as a result of this incident.

Witnesses at the scene of the crash indicated to authorities that Eubanks never stopped the car and continued driving after he hit the victims.  As police continued the chase, Eubanks’ crashed his car into several parked cars and attempted to flee police on foot.  He was eventually taken into custody by police.  Upon his arrest, an analysis of the defendant’s blood tested positive for four drugs in his system including cocaine and marijuana.

Cook County Judge Timothy Joyce sentenced Eubanks to 30 years for First Degree Murder, 6 Years for Aggravated DUI, and 4 years for Failure to Report an Accident all to run consecutive for a total of 40 years in prison during a hearing today at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building in Chicago.  Eubanks has been held in Cook County Jail without bond since the incident occurred in 2009.

State’s Attorney Alvarez thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Ashley Romito, Charise Valente and Patrick Keane as well as the Chicago Police Department for their work on this case.