Days before Christmas, 44-year-old Samantha Bragg was found clinging to life on a West Side street, the apparent victim of a hit-and-run that has left her family and neighbors looking for answers and a driver who never stopped.
Family Seeks Answers
Bragg's daughter, Hali Stapleton, told CBS Chicago that officers found her mother unresponsive in the 3900 block of West 5th Avenue around 1:30 a.m. Stapleton said Bragg had "tire marks all over her clothes and road rash all over her body" when she was discovered.
Bragg, a mother of three and grandmother of four who had struggled with addiction for years, was taken to a hospital, where she later died, according to her daughter.
Police Investigating, Driver Fled
Chicago police say a passerby flagged down officers after spotting Bragg in the street, and the Major Accidents Investigation Unit is now handling the case, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Investigators have released few details about the vehicle involved, and the department has circulated its tip line, urging anyone who might have seen something to come forward.
Information can be reported to CPD Major Accidents at (312) 745-4521 or anonymously at CPDTIP.com.
Why This Matters
Hit-and-run crashes and pedestrian deaths remain a stubborn safety problem across Chicago, with community advocates pointing to wide streets and higher speeds as recurring risk factors in deadly collisions. Reporting by Streetsblog Chicago and other outlets highlights how the city continues to wrestle with preventing these kinds of tragedies.
Bragg's family is now relying on witnesses, security cameras, and the community's willingness to speak up. "We're hopeful that somebody will eventually say something and come forward and explain what happened," Stapleton told CBS Chicago.
For earlier local coverage, see Police Hunt Garfield Park Hit-and-Run Suspect on Hoodline. Tips in this case can be directed to CPD Major Accidents at (312) 745-4521 or submitted anonymously at CPDTIP.com using reference No. JJ302688.
