A quiet Friday morning in Park Ridge turned devastating as 55-year-old David Jutovsky, of Northbrook, lost his life in a traffic accident that has left family, friends, and the community shaken. The incident happened around 10:09 a.m. on November 14, 2025, at the intersection of Dempster Street and Potter Road—an ordinary crossing that became the site of an unimaginable tragedy.
According to the Park Ridge Police Department, Jutovsky was crossing Dempster when a vehicle turning onto eastbound Dempster from southbound Potter struck him. First responders rushed to the scene, but despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead moments later. The driver involved remained at the scene and is cooperating with authorities.
While investigators worked to piece together what happened, the intersection—usually filled with a steady flow of late-morning traffic—fell quiet. Eastbound Dempster was shut down for nearly six hours as the Cook County MCAT Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction (S.T.A.R.) Unit assisted in the detailed and delicate investigative process. The roadway has since reopened, but the weight of the morning’s events lingers.
In moments like these, it becomes clear how quickly life can change. A routine morning walk, a routine drive—ordinary moments that can shift the course of many lives in an instant. For those who knew David Jutovsky, the shock is profound. Described by friends and neighbors as someone steady, kind, and deeply rooted in the community, his sudden loss leaves a meaningful void.
As investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash, the focus for many turns toward the human impact. A family now faces the painful reality of an empty chair at the dinner table. Friends mourn the loss of a man whose presence brought warmth and familiarity. And a community is reminded of the fragility present in even the simplest parts of daily life.
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