A man convicted of killing two people in a fiery crash while speeding on Lake Shore Drive two years ago has been sentenced to probation and extensive community service, according to court records.
Bradley Hamel, 50, took the case to a bench trial before Judge James Obbish, who found him guilty of two counts of reckless homicide by motor vehicle and aggravated reckless driving last month. This week, Obbish sentenced him to 30 months of probation and 1,000 hours of community service.
The crash occurred around 8:46 p.m. on October 30, 2023, in the 3000 block of South Lake Shore Drive.
Prosecutors have said Hamel was driving his Chevrolet Bolt southbound on the drive, traveling more than 60 mph, when he suddenly veered across two lanes of traffic to try to exit at 31st Street. A southbound Nissan Altima struck the passenger side of Hamel’s car, causing both vehicles to hit the median and crash into trees, according to a Chicago police report.
The Altima burst into flames. Its driver, 24-year-old Jalean Gibbs, and front-seat passenger, 24-year-old Jaida Rosado, died from multiple injuries suffered in the crash, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. A 21-year-old woman riding in the back seat suffered a critical brain injury, the report said.
Hamel refused medical treatment, but his two passengers, a 39-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man, were treated for minor injuries, according to the CPD report.
Police interviewed Hamel the night of the crash, but charges were not filed until August 2024, nearly a year later.
“Jay was that guy who was always willing to help. He had a smile that would light up any room,” Lucille Thompson said of Gibbs in a GoFundMe post after the crash. Friends remembered him as “Gibby” and “Mr. Gibby” from his work with youths at a local YMCA.
In a separate campaign, Rosado was remembered as “a ray of sunshine who was always looking out for the well-being of everyone. She kept a positive attitude, loved everyone, and was a go-getter who continuously accumulated new skills, certifications, and accomplishments.”
