WLS-TV minivan crash incident

The WLS-TV minivan crash incident occurred on December 23, 2007. Gerald Richardson, a 25-year-old man with a reported history of mental illness, drove a Mazda MPV minivan into the glass-walled WLS-TV building during a live evening news broadcast. News anchor Ravi Baichwal was visibly startled, and videos of the incident and Baichwal's reaction were rapidly posted on YouTube, becoming an Internet meme.

No one was injured during the collision, but station meteorologist Phil Schwartz stated that the crash "shook the entire building." For his role in the crash, Gerald Richardson was charged with felony criminal damage to property, and ordered to appear in court on Christmas Day, 2007. He was also charged with resisting arrest, and issued several minor traffic citations. As of December 26, 2006, it was not clear whether or not the crash was deliberate. According to Richardson's family, he had a "history of behavioral problems" and was scheduled to receive psychiatric care following the holiday season.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu