Chicago Fire Department lieutenant dies after bicycle crash

(CHICAGO) A Chicago Fire Department lieutenant died Monday, three weeks after he was injured in a crash while riding his bicycle back to his Far South Side home following a shift.

Danny Carbol, 56, died at 10:05 p.m. Monday at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Carbol finished his shift at the firehouse in the 8000 block of South Kedzie on Sept. 20 and said goodbye to his fellow firefighters and then got on his bike to ride home, as he had done for years, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said. He lived in the 10500 block of South Central Park Avenue.

He tried to brake but he hit a vehicle, went over the bike and hit the vehicle head-first, Langford said.

An autopsy Tuesday found he died of multiple injuries from being struck by a vehicle and ruled his death an accident. The exact time and address of the crash were not available, though the Chicago Police Department said the crash occurred in a suburb and not within city limits.

“Despite the best efforts to save him, the brain damage was irreversible,” Langford said.

“It’s a great loss to the department,” he said.

“Danny comes from a firefighter family. His dad served many years and his brother is also a firefighter. He rode his bicycle to and from the firehouse for many years. We are saddened at the loss and his department family joins his first family in mourning his death.”