Lynwood clerk sued in fatal crash

LYNWOOD | Village Clerk Roel "Roy" Valle is being sued by the family of a Chicago woman who was killed in a vehicle crash early Feb. 4 on Ill. 394.

Illinois State Police have said alcohol was involved.

Joseph Vitu, a Chicago attorney retained by the family of Melikah Little, 32, said the lawsuit claims negligence on Valle's part in causing the crash that killed Little and sent two others to local hospitals, including Little's husband, Manuel.

Vitu said he waited to file suit because he wanted more information from the Illinois State Police about the incident.

"They're keeping their cards close to the vest," Vitu said of the state's release of information. "We wanted to know what the charges (against Valle) would be."

Illinois State Police Trooper Clare Pfotenhauer said no charges have been filed in connection with the accident as of Tuesday afternoon.

Village President Gene Williams ran Tuesday night's board meeting with a heavy heart.

He was visibly upset about the automobile crash. After the board meeting concluded, Williams spoke with The Times regarding the accident.

"All of us here at the Village Hall are saddened and deeply upset about the unfortunate chain of events that happened on Friday night," Williams said. "We are hurt, and we are disappointed."

Williams confirmed he had talked to Valle over the weekend after the crash. He described the conversation as somber and emotional but chose to keep the specifics private.

He also cautioned against rushing to judgment.

"We don't know all of the facts yet," Williams said. "We should all let the state police complete their investigation."

Valle, 64, had surgery to repair a broken leg Saturday at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill. Valle has been village clerk for six years, following 16 years as a Lynwood trustee.

Williams also confirmed that Valle was driving a village vehicle at the time of the accident.

"No one takes a vehicle home every night except some police officers," Williams said. "Roy had access to the vehicle he used Friday and made a decision to drive it. Whether or not a village employee takes home a vehicle is a day-to-day determination."

There was a question as to whether the village had any liability since Valle was driving a village vehicle.

Village Attorney Michael Marovich said the village had contacted their respective automobile and liability insurance representatives.

"The answers to those questions would fall under their area of expertise," Marovich said.

Pfotenhauer said Tuesday that police sought to execute a search warrant and wanted to interview more witnesses to the accident before they recommend charges to the Cook County state's attorney's office.

Pfotenhauer refuted published reports that Valle was issued tickets for drunken driving and disobeying a traffic-control device.

State police have said the accident occurred about 1:30 a.m. Feb. 4 when a Lynwood municipal vehicle driven by Valle entered the southbound lanes of Ill. 394 at Sauk Trail, headed north. Police said "alcohol was a contributing factor" but did not indicate anything more specific.

That car made it one mile north to Lincoln Highway just east of Ford Heights before striking a southbound car in which Melikah Little, 32, of Chicago, was a passenger. A third vehicle, driven by Manuel Little, then was struck.

Melikah Little was pronounced dead a short time later at Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey. Manuel Little suffered a fractured hip.

The driver of the car in which Melikah Little was riding was in good condition at Franciscan St. Margaret Health in Hammond.