Car accident: Reckless homicide charge follows hit-and-run crash

An Illinois family has to cope with the unanticipated death of a loved one in an accident that could have been avoided. The driver who apparently caused the car accident is now facing multiple charges, including reckless homicide. Police reported that the accident occurred very early on a recent Saturday morning in Tinley Park.

According to an accident report, Tinley Park Police officers were busy tending to another accident when a 21-year-old driver struck a 54-year-old pedestrian before sideswiping a police vehicle. She fled the scene and was subsequently identified and located through non-stop gathering of evidence and the assistance of witnesses. The pedestrian suffered critical injuries and was rushed to the hospital but, sadly, she later died as a result of her injuries.

The hit-and-run driver was also charged with failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, failure to report a fatal accident, use of a mobile phone while driving and failure to signal. The charges also included failure to avoid the accident by reducing speed and improper use of traffic lanes. She was awaiting a bond hearing at the time of the media report.

Although finding and arresting the hit-and-run driver who was allegedly responsible for this car accident may provide some level of closure to the surviving family members, they will likely continue to face financial challenges. They are entitled to pursue compensation by filing a wrongful death claim in an Illinois civil court. By successfully presenting a claim that is substantiated by evidence of negligence, the court may award financial compensation for end-of-life expenses along with other documented financial losses sustained.

Source: Tinley Park Il. Patch, “Driver Charged in Fatal Hit-and-Run in Tinley Park“, Lauren Traut, July 22, 2015