Local News
April Valencia and her boyfriend Matthew Cuadra killed in Greater Grand Crossing crash
CHICAGO — Two people were killed and three others were injured following a violent crash on Chicago’s South Side late Friday night, according to police and emergency officials.
The collision occurred around 9:30 p.m. near West 75th Street and South Vincennes Avenue in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood.
According to preliminary information from the Chicago Police Department (CPD), a 37-year-old woman driving a gray Buick sedan was traveling westbound on 75th Street when she attempted to turn south onto Vincennes Avenue.
Investigators say she failed to yield while making the turn, colliding with a black Dodge that was traveling eastbound through the intersection.
The impact caused severe damage to both vehicles, and the force of the crash pushed the Dodge into a parked gray Mercedes-Benz sedan, which was unoccupied at the time.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with debris scattered across the roadway and at least two victims ejected from their vehicle. Emergency responders from the Chicago Fire Department arrived quickly and began rendering aid to multiple victims.
Two occupants of the Dodge, later identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office as 20-year-old Matthew Cuadra and 18-year-old April M. Valencia, both of Lansing, were transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead.
The driver of the Dodge, a 26-year-old man, and two additional passengers — a 15-year-old girl and a 25-year-old woman — were also hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Family members have confirmed that April Valencia and her boyfriend, Matthew Cuadra, were the two victims who lost their lives in the crash.
Valencia’s sister, Jacky, was also among those injured and remains in critical condition as she continues to receive treatment.
The driver of the Buick was issued a citation for failure to yield while turning left. Police have not announced any further charges at this time.
Video footage from the scene showed significant damage to both vehicles, with parts of the roadway closed for several hours as investigators worked under bright floodlights to document the crash.
The CPD Major Accidents Investigation Unit is leading the inquiry into the collision to determine contributing factors such as speed, impairment, or distracted driving.
This tragic crash has left two young lives cut short and a family devastated. Loved ones have begun organizing community support to help cover medical and funeral expenses as the investigation continues.
Local News
Suspended Dearborn Ford worker Thomas Sabula received more than $320K after Trump flips him off
DEARBORN, Mich. — A suspended Ford Motor Company employee has become the focus of national attention after a confrontation with former President Donald Trump during a visit to a Dearborn assembly plant, prompting an outpouring of public support that has raised more than $324,000 for his family through an online fundraiser.
The worker, Thomas “TJ” Sabula, a 40-year-old United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 600 member, was placed on suspension pending an internal investigation following an exchange that occurred while Trump was touring the facility.
According to video later obtained and published by TMZ, an off-camera voice can be heard shouting “pedophile protector” at the former president, an apparent reference to the administration’s handling of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
In the footage, Trump appears to mouth an expletive and make a hand gesture before walking away.
The Washington Post subsequently identified Sabula as the individual who made the remark.
In an interview with the newspaper, Sabula confirmed that he was suspended after the incident and said he believes the action amounts to political retaliation.
“As far as calling him out, definitely no regrets whatsoever,” Sabula told The Post. “But I am concerned about my job. I believe I’ve been targeted for political retribution for embarrassing him in front of his friends.”
Sabula, who describes himself as politically independent, said he has never voted for Trump, though he has supported Republican candidates in the past.
In the days following the incident, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist Sabula and his family during his suspension.
The campaign states that Sabula is “a father of two young children, a husband, and a proud UAW Local 600 line worker,” and that the funds will be used to help cover household and living expenses “during this time of uncertainty.” Donations quickly surged past $100,000, with notable contributions reportedly made by the rock band Dropkick Murphys.
Supporters have characterized Sabula’s actions as a form of protest and free expression, while others have questioned whether his conduct violated workplace policies.
Ford Motor Company and union representatives have not publicly released details regarding the status of the internal investigation or whether disciplinary action beyond the suspension is being considered.
Following his visit to the Dearborn plant, Trump went on to deliver remarks at the Detroit Economic Club, where he had last spoken in October 2024.
The incident continues to draw attention amid broader political debate, as questions remain about workplace discipline, free speech, and the role of political expression in employment settings.