A bus driver accused of striking several vehicles in Wrigleyville and injuring a pedicab driver early Sunday was arrested after he was chased down by witnesses, according to police.
Bryan Rollins was charged with misdemeanor DUI, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, failure to carry or display a driver’s license, failure to give notice of an accident and failure to keep in lanes, police said.
Police say Bryan Rollins, a 40-year-old California man, was behind the wheel of a party bus in the Wrigleyville neighborhood when he slammed into two parked cars and a pedicab driver. He was later charged with two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence. pic.twitter.com/oLY9G0W3jm
— Sun-Times Breaking (@CSTbreaking) June 13, 2023
Rollins, 40, was behind the wheel of what appeared to be a small party bus in the 3600 block of North Clark Street shortly after midnight when he attempted to drive around vehicles that were stopped in traffic, according to police and a video of the accident.
After hitting a vehicle on his right and another on his left, he struck a pedicab driven by Sarah Yopp and then began to “flee the scene” west on Addison Street, a police report said.
Bystanders, including people in one of the cars he allegedly hit, followed Rollins until he parked in the 2900 block of North Lincoln Avenue, according to the report. Officers saw “open alcohol” in his vehicle, and Rollins told officers he had been drinking that evening, the report said.
Yopp was treated on the scene by Chicago firefighters but declined further assistance, hoping to avoid costly medical expenses, Yopp said. She later visited the hospital and found that she had suffered a concussion.
“I didn’t know I had a concussion at the time,” Yopp said. “My head hit the ground pretty hard, but I just didn’t want to get a $3,000 bill for an ambulance.”
Yopp said she also didn’t want to leave her pedicab behind. It was badly damaged after being hit.
Illinois law prohibits a driver from leaving the scene of any type of traffic accident without reporting it first, according to a police report, Rollins did not receive a felony hit and run charge — despite video evidence taken at the scene.
“Police told me they couldn’t charge [Rollins] because the accident wasn’t reported within half an hour,” Yopp said. “I’m not going to lie, I’m very angry at how this is being handled.”
Left with thousands of dollars in medical expenses and pedicab repairs, Yopp’s sister, Anna, created a GoFundMe post in support.
“Not only was she physically injured, but her pedicab, which is her livelihood, was damaged,” Anna Yopp said.
“We are hoping to raise funds for her to pay her expenses while she recovers, including any necessary medical expenses and repairs for her pedicab,” Anna Yopp said in the post.
