A man was left in serious condition Monday after being struck on southbound I-94 near the I-290 interchange in Chicago, according to authorities. Drivers who first spotted him lying in the roadway tried to shield him with their vehicles, but the effort was shattered when another driver plowed through and then took off. Illinois State Police say the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he remains in serious condition, and the case is under active investigation.
Drivers Try To Help, Then Hit-and-Run Driver Shows Up
Motorists called 911 after seeing a male on the pavement and began using their vehicles to block the lane in an attempt to keep him from being hit, according to WGN-TV. An SUV then reportedly went around those makeshift barriers, struck the pedestrian, and fled the scene. Illinois State Police troopers later transported the injured man to an area hospital and described the crash as an active hit-and-run investigation.
Another Expressway Hit-and-Run In A Troubling Stretch
This is not the only recent hit-and-run on Chicago expressways. ABC7 reported a similar early-morning incident in late May that shut down the 95th Street ramp from I-94. Illinois State Police have also announced previous arrests in other leaving-the-scene investigations on area interstates, including a February arrest tied to a pedestrian strike on the Edens Expressway. Those cases highlight how troopers have been treating expressway hit-and-runs as a serious priority.
What Illinois Law Requires Drivers To Do
Illinois law requires any driver involved in a crash that causes personal injury to stop, stay at the scene, or promptly report the incident to authorities. Failing to do so can lead to charges under 625 ILCS 5/11-401, and leaving the scene of an injury crash can be prosecuted as a felony, with potential prison time, fines, and mandatory testing for alcohol or drugs in some situations, according to ILGA.
Illinois State Police say the investigation into Monday’s crash remains active and that they have not yet released a suspect description. Anyone with information or relevant video footage has been urged to contact authorities, as reported by WGN-TV. Officials are expected to release more details as the investigation develops.
