Bates was traveling northbound on Halsted Street early Thursday morning when his car was hit head-on by another vehicle driven by Gerrick Birt, according to CWBChicago.com.
Birt, 29, of the 2600 block of S. Halsted, was charged Friday with felony DUI, causing an accident with bodily harm, two counts of misdemeanor DUI and traffic violations, including failure to have insurance and failure to carry a driver’s license. Bail information was not immediately available and it’s unknown if additional charges will be filed.
Bates and Birt were both admitted to Advocate Illinois Masonic on Thursday for treatment.
“I’m not okay, but I’m here,” Bates told friends on Facebook later Thursday morning. Bates said he was driving to Charlie’s Nightclub when his car was struck by the drunk driver.
“My pelvic bone is broken and I’ll be out for a while but GiGi Mayonaé will return,” he wrote.
Bates underwent surgery on Saturday morning, according to his Facebook page.
According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, Bates, of the 6100 block of S. Dorchester, passed away Sunday, July 21, at 1:50 p.m.
Friends have shared condolences on Facebook. “GiGi Mayonaé may you rest in full power. Truly one of the kindest souls to touch this earth you will be missed,” Joe Lewis of Chicago wrote on Facebook.
CWBChicago.com reported that Birt was charged in 2014 with possessing more than a half-pound of marijuana, driving without insurance, and running a stop sign at 3400 N. Sheffield, just a few blocks from Thursday’s crash scene.
Birt would eventually plead guilty and receive 18-months probation.
