A deadly hit-and-run shattered the early-morning quiet in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood on Friday, leaving one man dead and another fighting for his life after a violent collision at Elston and Kedzie. As daylight broke, emergency crews worked around two heavily damaged cars while stunned onlookers shared video of the wreckage. Police say the driver who caused the crash took off on foot, and two victims were rushed to Illinois Masonic Hospital.
The crash happened just before 6 a.m. in the 3500 block of North Elston Avenue, according to ABC7 Chicago. Officers quickly taped off the busy intersection and began the painstaking work of reconstructing what went wrong in those few seconds before impact.
What the police say happened
Chicago police say a Toyota RAV4 heading north on Elston ran a traffic signal and slammed into a Toyota Prius that was traveling south on Kedzie Avenue, leaving both vehicles crumpled. Video from the scene showed mangled front-ends and debris scattered across the crosswalk. The RAV4 driver then ran away on foot, as reported by CBS Chicago.
Victims and the hospital
Police told ABC7 Chicago that a 25-year-old passenger in the Prius was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The Prius' 37-year-old driver was also transported to Illinois Masonic in critical condition. Authorities have not yet released the names of either victim.
Investigation and legal implications
CPD's Major Accidents Unit is leading the investigation and was on scene collecting evidence, CBS Chicago reports. Under Illinois law, any driver involved in a crash that causes injury or death must stop, render aid, and report the incident to authorities. Leaving the scene in a case like this can trigger felony charges, with stiffer penalties when a death occurs, as outlined in the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-401). Investigators typically examine surveillance footage, vehicle data, and witness statements as they work to identify and track down a fleeing driver.
Neighborhood safety
Elston cuts diagonally through Chicago's street grid and meets Kedzie at an odd angle, a setup that can create tricky crossing patterns and conflict points for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. The city has installed curb-protected bike lanes and other safety upgrades along stretches of both Kedzie and Elston in recent years, part of a broader safety push highlighted by Streetsblog Chicago. Local traffic safety advocates say those improvements are important but do not fully erase the dangers at skewed, diagonal intersections like this one.
Police have not released further details on the victims or the driver who ran from the scene, and no arrests have been announced. Detectives are asking anyone with information to come forward. The investigation remains active, and officials say more updates will be provided as they become available.
