A vehicle crashed into a family's apartment at a complex on Meadow Court in Rockford just after 7 p.m. Friday, leaving the home so damaged that the family has not been allowed back inside. Everyone escaped safely, the family said, but the crash struck at an especially fragile moment: their one-month-old child is scheduled for surgery for a stomach condition just days after being discharged from a local hospital's NICU.
The family told MyStateline the crash was a hit-and-run, with the driver leaving the scene after plowing into their apartment. The family has not been allowed back inside because of the damage, according to the family's account relayed to the station.
Illinois law requires a driver who damages unattended property to stop, provide identifying and vehicle information to the owner—either directly or in a written notice—and notify police without unnecessary delay. Failing to meet those requirements is a Class A misdemeanor under the Illinois Vehicle Code. The statute sets out the general duty; it does not establish who was driving in this case or whether anyone has been charged.
Apartment Left Uninhabitable Overnight
The damage left the family's apartment uninhabitable, and donations to the family's fundraiser would help secure temporary housing. The family is also preparing for the newborn's scheduled surgery.
Rockford’s Community Services Division offers housing assistance programs for people facing a crisis beyond their control, though eligibility rules, income limits and available funding vary. The city says people without housing or in an unsafe living situation can contact its Community Action Homeless Hotline at 844-710-6919 and select option 5 to access housing services. The city also lists rental and mortgage assistance for people experiencing a temporary crisis, subject to program requirements.
The family's infant left the NICU only days before the crash and is now facing a scheduled surgery to address a stomach condition, per the family's account shared with the same outlet. Preparing for surgery so soon after a hospital stay can be difficult, and the apartment damage has made an already stressful stretch far harder for the household.
Family Turns to GoFundMe for Help
Unable to return to the apartment, the family has shared a GoFundMe campaign to help cover costs tied to the crash. Donations are intended to help the family secure temporary housing and meet other immediate needs while they figure out next steps for both their living situation and their newborn's medical care.
No arrest or vehicle description has been released, and it remains unclear who owns or manages the Meadow Court complex. For now, the family is focused on securing temporary housing while preparing for their child's surgery, hoping the community support can bridge the gap left by a driver who, they say, never stopped.
