Honor student was drunk, high at time of fatal crash

By Rummana Hussain Criminal Courts Reporter/rhussain@suntimes.com July 11, 2011 7:36AM

At least two vehicles collided, leaving a 42-year-old woman dead Sunday morning in Bucktown. The wreck occurred at 6:14 a.m. at Armitage and Hoyne avenues, according to police News Affairs Officer Laura Kubiak. One person was killed, according to Kubiak. The victim’s name was not being released immediately, but she was a 42-year-old woman who was pronounced dead at 6:54 a.m. at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. She was the driver of a vehicle struck by another vehicle, according to the medical examiner's office. on Sunday, July 10, 2011 in Chicago. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times

Updated: July 11, 2011 4:26PM

A 16-year-old boy admitted he was drunk on vodka and high on marijuana and ecstasy when he stole a car and crashed into a 911 police dispatcher, killing her as he tried to elude officers, authorities said Monday.

Preliminary tests showed that Marquis Harrison’s blood-alcohol level was .186 â€" more than twice the .08 legal limit â€" following his arrest Sunday morning, Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Christopher Costello said.

Killed in the accident was 42-year-old Marciea Adkins â€" a 911 dispatcher driving home after her shift, said Roderick Drew, a spokesman for the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communication.

Harrison is an honors student, basketball player and quarterback of the football team at Urban Prep Charter Academy’s East Garfield Park campus, according to his mother, Lindetta McGlory, and assistant public defender Preston Collins.

Kelly Dickens, Urban Prep’s vice president of institutional advancement confirmed Harrison was a student in the 2010-11 school year but had no additional details.

During Sunday’s police chase, Harrison ran through a stop sign at Armitage and Hoyne avenues and slammed the silver 2004 Range Rover he stole into Adkins’ car, causing it to careen into a fire hydrant, Costello said.

Emergency workers had to extricate Adkins from her car before she was transported to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Adkins was described by co-workers as “the nicest, most positive person you would ever want to meet,” Drew said.

Her husband is also a dispatcher.

Harrison allegedly swiped the SUV from a 45-year-old Bellwood man who had left the engine running when he stopped to feed a parking meter box on North Michigan Avenue, officials said.

Officers who saw Harrison run a red light tried to question him at Elston Avenue and West Blackhawk Street, but Harrison backed the Range Rover into a squad car, almost striking two officers who stood outside, authorities said.

Police noticed Harrison’s “glassy eyes” and continued to chase him as he sped off and struck Adkins, a police report said.

Harrison, of the 200 block of South Lotus Avenue, eventually ended up crashing into a park car. He got out and ran before officers arrested him, Costello said.

Harrison allegedly admitted to a police officer he got “drunk and high” at a party before his deadly joyride.

Judge Jackie Portman ordered the teenager held in lieu of $1 million bail on first-degree murder and burglary charges.

Harrison, who wore a maroon t-shirt and blue sweatpants in court Monday, was also charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence and was cited for disobeying a traffic light and failing to stop at a stop sign.

Harrison was previously sentenced to probation as a juvenile for two counts of possession of a stolen motor vehicle in Kane County, Costello said.

A memorial fund has been established in memory of Adkins. Donations can also be taken over the phone at 312-726-8814, or they can be mailed to:

Chicago Patrolmen’s Federal Credit Union

The Marciea L. Adkins Fund

1407 W. Washington Blvd.

Chicago, IL 60607