Local police are currently investigating the death of a retired Steger Fire Department Captain who was recently killed in a hit-and-run accident in Crete. The 70-year-old man was reportedly crossing Main Street in front of a coffee shop when he was struck by an unidentified vehicle. After the accident was discovered, emergency responders transported the pedestrian to Franciscan St. James Health Hospital in Chicago Heights. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, the man died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the crash about four hours later.
The Crete Police Department stated evidence at the scene of the fatal pedestrian accident suggests the man was hit by a Chevrolet or GMC Sport Utility Vehicle. Law enforcement officers are allegedly reviewing closed circuit video taken at a nearby business in the hopes of uncovering the identity of the hit-and-run driver. Crete Police Sgt. Brian Voticke said the vehicle will likely have noticeable front end damage as a result of the accident. Voticke added that the man’s death is now being investigated as a reckless homicide.
A hit-and-run accident occurs anytime a motorist collides with and causes damage to a person or property and flees the scene. In Illinois, a driver who is involved in an accident that results in an injury to a person or damage to property must stop at the accident scene to render aid or exchange insurance information. Failure to do so may result in the loss of driving privileges and a variety of criminal charges.
Hit-and-run crashes that involve a pedestrian often result in serious or life-altering injuries. Head trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and death frequently result whenever a pedestrian is struck by a motor vehicle. The victim in a hit-and-run accident may be eligible to receive compensation for the cost of their medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Additionally, the close relative of someone who is killed in a hit-and run collision may also file a wrongful death claim.
When the driver in a hit-and-run collision is not apprehended, the victim still has other avenues for recovery. Someone who is injured in a hit-and-run crash may file an uninsured motorist claim against their own insurance company or that of someone who resides in their household. Additionally, the family of someone who was killed in a hit-and-run accident may be eligible to receive compensation from the Illinois Crime Victims Compensation Act. If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a hit-and-run crash, you should contact a skilled car accident lawyer to help you file your case.
If you were hurt or a loved one was killed in a hit-and-run or other pedestrian accident, please call Abels & Annes, P.C. at (312) 475-9596. Our knowledgeable Chicago Metro hit-and-run accident attorneys are ready and willing to answer your questions and help you file your personal injury or wrongful death claim. At Abels & Annes, P.C., our hardworking lawyers are available seven days a week to help you receive the compensation you deserve following an accident with a negligent driver. To speak with a capable personal injury lawyer about your case, do not hesitate to contact Abels & Annes, P.C. through our website today.
More Blogs:
Teen Driver, Two Chicago Police Officers Hurt in South Side Vehicle Accident, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, November 13, 2012
Man Pleads Guilty to Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana in Fatal Addison Road Motorcycle Accident, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, November 8, 2012
Additional Resources:
Retired Steger fire captain killed in hit-and-run, by Rosemary R. Sobol and Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune
Longtime Steger firefighter killed in Crete hit-and-run, by Lauri Harvey Keagle, nwitimes.com