3 years after son was struck and killed, Waukegan, Illinois family says ambulance safety law isn't followed
A family from Waukegan, Illinois does not want the same tragedy they have faced to happen to anyone else — three years after their son was hit and killed by an ambulance that went through a stop sign with no emergency lights or siren on.
They helped spark a new traffic law in Illinois, but now they are concerned that the law is not being followed or enforced.
Satrese Stallworth has fought tooth and nail to get the justice she feels her son, Donald "DJ" Stallworth III, deserves. But three years later, she said she is not seeing the results.
"I started working on getting that law passed so no one else would have to go through that," said Satrese Stallworth.
The fatal incident happened at the intersection of Lake and Genesee streets in Waukegan on May 16, 2022.
DJ Stallworth's family said he was crossing on his motorcycle when a Waukegan Fire Department ambulance went through a stop sign with no siren on during a transport.
The 23-year-old was killed.
"We got this law changed to save a family from going through what we're going through," said Satrese Stallwroth.
DJ Stallworth's family worked with lawmakers in Springfield to pass SB1251, the Donald (DJ) Stallworth III Act. It requires EMTs to go through extensive training and to use lights and sirens when transporting a patient.
"Nobody is doing the training, evidently," said Antoinette Stallworth.
At a Tuesday night Waukegan City Council meeting, an attorney and members of the Stallworth family spoke in front of officials to say a year after the law went into effect, it is not being followed.
"I have watched Waukegan Fire Department go through intersections without having sirens on," said DJ Stallworth's sister, Antoinette Dedrick. "It's a total disrespect."
"That is such a slap to the face to the family," added Satrese Stallworth.
In an email, the City of Waukegan says its EMTs are trained under SB1251. But the Stallworths say they are not seeing it implemented back home, and possibly in other cities in Illinois.
"Waukegan should have it perfected!" Satrese Stallworth said at the Waukegan City Council meeting.
The Stallworths say they have a scholarship fund in DJ's name, and are working to get a monument at a local park. They also already settled a lawsuit with the city.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
31-05-2025
- New York Post
DJ Daniel, teen cancer survivor sworn in as honorary Secret Service agent by Trump, has heartbreaking new diagnosis
The family of Devarjaye 'DJ' Daniel recently revealed a heartbreaking diagnosis just months after the teen brain cancer survivor captured America's hearts when he was sworn in as an honorary member of the Secret Service by President Trump. DJ, who was given five months to live after being diagnosed with incurable brain and spine cancer in 2018, has 'three new tumors,' his father, Theodis Daniel, told Fox 7 Austin last week. 'It's rough, there isn't a class that can teach you how to deal with it. You're hearing that your child has a nasty disease,' the heartbroken dad said. 6 Devarjaye 'DJ' Daniel after being sworn in as an honorary Secret Service agent during Trump's address to Congress. REUTERS Advertisement 'We're just going around showing people, hey, you do care for one another. Let's give compassion and let's try to join and help each other get through things,' he added. DJ, who dreams of becoming a police officer, was thrust into the national spotlight when he was sworn in as an honorary protector of Trump during the president's address to a joint session of Congress on March 4. The teen has nearly completed his quest to be sworn in by 1,000 law enforcement agencies across the country — which would be a Guinness World Record. Advertisement He already holds multiple records, including 'the most keys to the city' and 'most proclamation days.' 6 DJ Daniel dreams of being a police officer. AFP via Getty Images 6 DJ, in a police uniform, recently developed three new tumors, his father, Theodis Daniel, revealed. U.S. Secret Service 6 Honorary Special Agent DJ Daniel, 13, visits the Secret Service Training Center in Maryland with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. U.S. Secret Service Advertisement 6 DJ gestures to the camera after being recognized during President Trump's address to Congress in March. AFP via Getty Images 6 A 10-year-old Daniel wears a police uniform in a squad car. William Farrington After his Secret Service honor, DJ got calls from law enforcement agencies throughout the country, including from Deputy Jeffrey Combs of the Williams County Sheriff's Office in Texas. 'I saw Theodis pick his son up. I felt that unconditional love, and I just knew I had to find DJ, so it all worked out,' he told FOX 7 last week. The teen has been keeping in good spirits: During the Williams County ceremony, DJ rubbed deputies' bald heads for luck, the outlet reported. And the youngster was just as upbeat at another recent swearing-in, this one in Polk County, Florida. 'I'll keep going until my gas tank runs out, and that's when God calls you home,' Daniel told officers. 'The craziest thing is on my 11th brain surgery, God told me I was one of his angels and I'm doing God's work. 'On my 12th brain surgery, he gave me my wings, but he told me I'm going to take these back until you graduate the school called life.'
USA Today
28-05-2025
- USA Today
Watch 2 New Orleans jail escapees be captured after leading police on high-speed chase
Watch 2 New Orleans jail escapees be captured after leading police on high-speed chase Two jail escapees, Antoine Massey, 32, and Derrick Groves, 27, remain at large. Show Caption Hide Caption New Orleans resident says sheriff 'failed us' after jail escape New Orleans resident Lakisha Catchings lives near where one of 10 escaped inmates was apprehended. She says the sheriff failed to protect the city. Police bodycam footage shows the moment two New Orleans jail escapees were taken into custody after leading officers on a high-speed chase and dodging law enforcement for nearly two weeks. Jermaine Donald and Leo Tate were arrested in Huntsville, Texas, on May 26 after leading law enforcement officers from various agencies on a high-speed chase throughout the city. Both men were charged with outstanding warrants for escaping the jail on May 16, but Donald also faces a charge of resisting an officer. Donald's original charges, for which he was in the New Orleans jail, were illegal carrying a weapon and second-degree murder. Tate's original charge was obstruction of justice. Once apprehended, both men were taken to the Walker County Jail for processing, according to Huntsville police. Huntsville police released the bodycam footage of the arrests on May 27 via Facebook, saying in the social media post, 'This incident underscores the vital role of cooperation and communication among local, state, and federal agencies. Such collaboration is essential to safeguard not only our residents but all communities.' The department also said Donald was additionally charged with evading in a vehicle by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Watch Texas law enforcement apprehend New Orleans jail escapees New Orleans escapees arrested in Texas, police body cam footage shows Two New Orleans escapees Jermaine Donald and Leo Tate, were captured in Texas, according to Huntsville Police Department. How many New Orleans jail escapees remain at large? When the escapes happened on May 16, a total of 10 inmates fled the Orleans Parish jail. So far, eight have been caught, meaning only two are still on the run. The search for escapees Antoine Massey, 32, and Derrick Groves, 27, is ongoing. According to Orleans Parish court records, Masey is charged with domestic abuse involving strangulation and theft of a motor vehicle. There's also a warrant for his arrest in St. Tammany Parish for second-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, domestic abuse involving strangulation and violation of a protective order involving battery stemming from a November incident, the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office told USA TODAY. Groves was incarcerated after being convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder in October in connection with a 2018 shooting during Mardi Gras. He had been awaiting sentencing on a manslaughter charge since October, court records show. How did the inmates escape the New Orleans jail? Authorities said the inmates pulled open faulty sliding cell doors, tore out a bathroom to create a hole in the jail, and then climbed a wall to escape. Three were recaptured by the end of the same day, while two more were caught a week later. New Orleans authorities announced awards of up to $20,000 per inmate for information leading to the arrests of the escapees. So far, at least 13 people have been arrested, including an inmate who did not flee, for collaborating with the escapees. Six arrests were announced on May 26, including that of Diamond White, 21, on charges that include principal to aggravated escape and obstruction of justice for helping Massey, according to Louisiana State Police spokesperson Sgt. Kate Stegall. Other arrests announced May 26 included Lenika Vanburen, 28, Tyshanea Randolph, 27, Patricia Vanburen, 18, Angel McKay, 41, and Lenton Vanburen Sr., 48. All face charges of accessory after the fact, and are accused of aiding 26-year-old escapee, Lenton Vanburen. All were booked into the Plaquemines Parish jail, Stegall said. A spokesperson for Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson's office has not responded to requests for comment, but previously said she took 'full accountability' for the breach. Contributing: John Bacon, Michael Loria & Chris Kenning/USA TODAY Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Watch: Texas police body camera footage shows recapture of escaped Orleans inmates
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Body camera footage from the Huntsville Police Department in Texas shows the moment two New Orleans escapees were captured. On Monday, May 26, 31-year-old Leo Tate and 42-year-old Jermaine Donald were found across Louisiana state line in Texas by Huntsville officers. Eight inmates captured, two still at large following Orleans Parish jailbreak The video shows officers in a pursuit behind the white vehicle reportedly being driven by Donald. In a second video, the vehicle is surrounded and Tate is seen being pulled out of the vehicle's back seat followed by Tate being pulled from the front. The group has been on the run for 11 days following the May 16 escape through a hole cut in the wall at the Orleans Justice Center. Tate was in custody for charges of simply burglary of an inhabited dwelling, possession of a firearm, illegal carrying weapon with a controlled substance. Donald faced charges of second-degree murder, aggravated battery, possession of firearm. Boyfriend of Desire homicide victim arrested on murder allegations Eight of the 10 escapees have been located and transferred to a state correctional facility. Also captured Monday was 27-year-old Lenton Vanburen who was captured in Baton Rouge. Vanburen was in custody for illegal carrying weapons, illegal possession of firearm by felon, obstruction of justice, introduce contraband in prison Antoine Massey and Derrick Groves remain at Orleans Parish Jail escapee captured in Baton Rouge, attorney general says NPR sues Trump over order to cut funding Collision 'sport' trending on social media turns deadly Three-time U.S. Olympian earns new title, graduates from LSUS Watch: Texas police body camera footage shows recapture of escaped Orleans inmates Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
