A Filipino father lost his life in a violent crash in downtown Chicago after his SUV was struck by a speeding getaway car used by suspects fleeing a smash-and-grab burglary.
Authorities identified the victim as 40-year-old Mark Carlo Arceta, who was on his way to work when his vehicle was hit with such force that it was “crushed like a tin can,” according to the Chicago Police Department. The suspects’ car was reportedly traveling at more than 100 miles per hour after looting a luxury store on Michigan Avenue, where they had stolen goods valued at up to $1 million.
According to a GMA News Online report, Arceta was rushed to Northwestern Hospital but died from severe injuries.
The tragedy struck just hours before his wife, Roanne Masangcay, gave birth to their second child. In a phone interview, she described her husband as the best partner and a devoted father: “They took a very loving father, a really good partner, and a very good dad. He was supposed to be with us.”
Chicago Police confirmed that the seven suspects involved, all with prior criminal records, are now facing multiple charges, including murder, burglary, and retail theft.
The Arceta family has begun raising funds to cover funeral costs and to help support the widow and her children in the wake of the devastating loss.
