CHICAGO – The Illinois law firm of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard has filed a lawsuit against Metra, the city of Chicago, and other defendants on behalf of the family of a 22-year-old bicyclist who was killed in a hit and run on the city’s Northwest Side. The incident occurred just across the street from where another Chicago cyclist was fatally struck in 2019.
On May 4, 2022, 22-year-old Nick Parlingayan was riding his bicycle around 9:30 p.m. in the marked, designated bicycle lane of the 2800 block of North Milwaukee Avenue. As Mr. Parlingayan was traveling near the underpass, an employee of Di Vita’s Restaurant and Pizzeria, Philip Pinkawa, was driving at a high rate of speed northwest on Milwaukee and crashed his Nissan Versa into Mr. Parlingayan, dragging him more than 50 feet. Mr. Pinkawa fled the scene and a witness called police to report the crash. When they arrived on scene, paramedics found Mr. Parlingayan unconscious in the street. He was transported to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The crash was captured on surveillance footage from a nearby business. Mr. Pinkawa was arrested and charged later that week after turning himself in to police.
According to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Parlingayan family’s attorneys on Monday, January 30, 2023, the northwest driving lane of Milwaukee Avenue narrowed to a half-lane due to construction at the Grayland Metra Station, forcing vehicles to drive into the bike lane that ran through the underpass of the viaduct.
According to the lawsuit, Metra, Transystems Corporation, the city of Chicago and IHC Construction had a shared duty to exercise caution when creating and overseeing the traffic pattern to avoid causing injury or harm to those traveling in the area. As such, the defendants were negligent in providing adequate accommodations for travel, adequate warning signage for bicyclists, and an adequate alternative route for cyclists.
“Milwaukee Avenue has needed better protections for bicyclists and pedestrians for some time. These lack of safety precautions, combined with failures by those involved in the construction of the area and driver error, created a dangerous scenario for anyone riding through that underpass,” The Parlingayan family’s attorney Brian L. Salvi said. “We hope that by filing this lawsuit, Nick’s death will not be in vain and will help our lawmakers make this high-traffic area of the city a safer space for bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers.”
Philip Pinkawa and his employer are also listed as defendants in the case.
“Nick loved being outdoors and riding his bicycle. While we miss his vibrant, loving personality every day, I find a small bit of peace in knowing Nick is helping to make the city a safer place for his fellow cyclists. I can only hope this lawsuit holds those responsible accountable and prevents another family from experiencing the unimaginable pain we have felt this past year,” Nick’s mother, Mary “Gigi” Geraldin Alegarbes, said.
Mr. Parlingayan is survived by his parents and four siblings. The family is also represented by attorney Eirene N. Salvi of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C.
The family has requested the media please respect their privacy during this time. For more information or to set up an interview with Attorney Salvi, please contact Marcie Mangan at (312) 372-1227 or mmangan@salvilaw.com.
