The man killed in a massive car crash in Chicago's Loop Saturday has been identified as a chef at some of the city's top restaurants.
Darius Sconiers, 35, was killed in the multi-vehicle crash at Congress Parkway and Wells Saturday afternoon, according to Illinois State Police and the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
The deadly collision occurred around 4:30 p.m. when a driver suffered a medical emergency and crashed into Sconiers' Cadillac truck at a "very high rate of speed," ISP said, causing a "chain-reaction crash" involving eight vehicles.
Twelve people, including Sconiers, were taken to area hospitals, officials said, while 11 others refused treatment at the scene.
Sconiers, of the 3000 block of West Adams Street in Bellwood, was a chef at some of Chicago's top restaurants, including Lawry's The Prime Rib, McCromick and Schmick's Seafood & Steaks and Formento's.
At the time of his death, he was working as a chef for local celebrities, his family said.
“He loved cooking and was proud of his accomplishments in the culinary field,” said his uncle, Kevin Mcgee.
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Sconiers' family said he began cooking at a young age. He had studied at Triton College and had even gone to Mexico to train. Relatives insisted Sunday that there was no doubt he had a bright future ahead of him.
“He had everybody in mind, his goals were your goals, he just need(ed) time to bring them to fruition,” his brother William Lockhart said.
Sconiers’ family gathered outside his Bellwood home Sunday to remember the inspiring young chef.
Funeral arrangements are pending, according to the family.
