Car Crash Takes Life of Fred Washington, Chicago Bears Tackle

Chicago Bears rookie defensive tackle Fred Washington was killed, along with a companion, in a car crash early this morning.

Washington was driving northbound on Illinois 43 in this Chicago suburb, where the Bears have their training camp, when the car bounced off the right curb, crossed the road and struck a tree, Deputy Police Chief Gary Wieczorek said.

Lake County Coroner Barbara Richardson pronounced Washington and his passenger, Petra Stoll, 22, dead at the scene of the crash, about two miles from Washington’s home, the coroner and Wieczorek said.

Passersby reported the accident at about 2:30 a.m., Wieczorek said.

Weather conditions were favorable at the time and no evidence of alcohol or any other drug was found in the car, a burgundy Cadillac sports model registered to Stoll, officials said.

Coach Mike Ditka said of Washington: “He was a coach’s dream, a player who never complained, an outstanding young man. We’re going to try and dedicate the rest of the year to Fred.”

Bears President Michael McCaskey remembered Washington, 23, as a player who had the respect of his teammates.

“That’s hard to come by, especially in your first year,” he said, “but he earned it because of how he worked.”

The team went through its usual practice routine today after its regular meeting. Defensive end Trace Armstrong described the mood of players and coaches as very low key as they discussed strategy for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bears got Washington in the second round of the 1990 draft. The 6-foot-2, 277-pounder from Texas Christian was used sparingly until recent weeks, when he began seeing more playing time for the injured Dan Hampton.