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Lyft Driver, Another Motorist Charged with DUI After Fatal Logan Square Crash

A Lyft driver and another motorist were charged with driving under the influence after being involved in a head-on crash early Friday that left a rideshare passenger dead and another rider hurt in the Logan Square neighborhood just north of Humboldt Park, police said.

The Lyft driver, 32-year-old Elizabeth Renter, was charged with a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of a drug, according to Chicago Police.

Travis Anderson, 25, of Tempe, Arizona, was charged with a felony count of  aggravated driving under the influence resulting in death and misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and a drug, police said.

The two-vehicle crash happened about 3:55 a.m. in the 1600 block of North Humboldt Boulevard when Anderson’s Toyota Avalon crossed over the center line and struck Renter’s Toyota Camry, according to Chicago Police.

A Lyft passenger riding in the Camry, 23-year-old Anudari Bayaraa, was taken to Stroger Hospital and pronounced dead, police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said. She lived in the North Center neighborhood.

A 31-year-old man who was also riding in the Camry was taken to Stroger, where he was listed in good condition, police said.

Renter, of Lena, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition, while Anderson was taken to Mount Sinai in custody, police said.

"We are deeply saddened and shocked by this incident," Lyft said in a statement. "Immediately upon hearing these allegations, we deactivated the driver. 

"Our sympathies and hearts go out to the loved ones of those involved during this difficult time. We have reached out to law enforcement and stand ready to assist in any investigation." 

CPD’s Major Accidents Unit was investigating the crash.

The Bayaraa family said her funeral is scheduled to take place Monday and a GoFundMe page has been created to assist with funeral expenses.

Copyright CHIST - SunTimes
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