A Chicago driver is now facing felony charges months after an early-morning University Village crash that killed a 24-year-old passenger, police say. The wreck happened in September on the 1100-block of West Congress Parkway, and the passenger later died at a hospital. Authorities say the case advanced this winter, and the defendant is expected in court on Friday.
Charges announced
According to ABC7 Chicago, 29-year-old Hamid Popla was charged on Dec. 24 with two counts of failing to report an accident or death. ABC7 reports that the counts follow a Chicago Police investigation and that Popla is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
Crash details and victim
The single-vehicle crash happened around 5:30 a.m. in September, when a dark-colored Lincoln sedan traveling east struck a median in the 1100-block of West Congress Parkway, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. The paper identified the passenger as 24-year-old Lilia Perez, who was taken to Stroger Hospital and pronounced dead, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Officials have not publicly explained whether the driver was hurt in the crash.
Legal context
Illinois law requires drivers involved in crashes that cause injury or death to stop and report what happened. Under 625 ILCS 5/11-401, failing to report a crash when a death occurs can be charged as a Class 1 felony, according to the Illinois Compiled Statutes. A conviction can bring multi-year prison terms and revocation of driving privileges.
What happens next
Popla’s arraignment is set for Friday, when a judge is expected to outline future court dates and any pretrial conditions, ABC7 Chicago reports. The charges are still only allegations, and Popla remains presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty. Additional details are likely to surface in court filings as the case moves forward.
