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Allegedly Drunk Driver Struck and Killed Sandra A. Mitchell, 47, in Archer Heights  

4:26 PM CDT on May 24, 2018

The 5100 block of South Archer. Image: Google Street View

The motorist who struck and killed 47-year-old Sandra A. Mitchell on Sunday, May 20, has been charged with drunk driving.

Sandra A. Mitchell and her family.
Sandra A. Mitchell and her family.

At about 3:20 a.m. Mitchell and a group of friends were crossing the street in the 5100 block of South Archer Avenue in Archer Heights when Robert Cantu, 38, struck her with a gray 2007 Chrysler, according to authorities. The victim, who lived in the West Elsdon neighborhood, was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center and pronounced dead at 3:58 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

In addition to misdemeanor drunk driving, Cantu was charged with failure to reduce speed and failure to exercise due care for a pedestrian in the roadway, the Chicago Tribune reported.

According to her obituary, Mitchell is survived by her husband Thomas and two young daughters. A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for the girls’ education.

Fatality Tracker: 2018 Chicago pedestrian and bicyclist deaths
Pedestrian: 21
Bicyclist: 1

Note: Streetsblog Chicago’s traffic death numbers represent fatal crashes on Chicago streets. The pedestrian count above is based on Chicago Police Department data for January-April 2018 released by the Chicago Department of Transportation, plus media reports for May.

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