Chicago police are searching for a driver who ran off after a late-night crash into a viaduct on the West Side left a passenger dead and a neighborhood looking for answers.
The collision happened around 10:14 p.m. on March 6 in the 1000 block of South Kostner Avenue in North Lawndale, according to authorities. A man riding in the vehicle was critically injured and later died, while the driver took off before first responders arrived. Investigators are now pushing for video and tips from the public.
What the police say
According to FOX 32 Chicago, the victim, believed to be between 45 and 50 years old, was a passenger in a black 2006 Honda Pilot that slammed into the viaduct. The Chicago Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Unit is leading the case.
Detectives have not released the victim’s name and have not described the driver who took off after the crash, according to FOX 32 Chicago.
How investigators are asking for help
Police say the driver left the scene before Chicago Fire Department crews got there. Investigators are urging anyone who was in the area that night to check dash-cam, surveillance or cellphone video that might have captured the crash or the fleeing driver.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Major Accident Investigation Unit at 312-745-4521 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com, using reference report number JK172272. The Chicago Police Department posts community alerts that list the same Major Accident Investigation Unit contact line.
Why police renewed appeals
FOX 32 Chicago reported in an April 7 update that the man later died from his injuries, shifting the case into a fatal hit-and-run investigation. That update prompted detectives to step up their public appeals, pressing residents, businesses and drivers who were in the area that night to share any footage that could help identify the driver.
Legal implications
Under the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-401), drivers involved in crashes that cause injury or death are required to stop, remain at the scene and promptly report the crash. Failing to stop or to make a required report can be charged as a felony, with penalties that increase when a crash results in death.
Anyone with tips or video is urged to reference report JK172272 when contacting investigators. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the CPD tip form at CPDTIP.com. The Major Accident Investigation Unit continues to investigate as the community waits for answers on who was behind the wheel.
