Hit And Run At Orland Square Mall Leaves 1 Teacher Dead, Another Seriously Injured
By Steven Graves, Eric Cox
CHICAGO (CBS)-- Police are still looking for the driver of a car that fatally struck one teacher and injured another after they left a Christmas party Wednesday night near Orland Square Mall.
Tragic.
— Eric Cox (@EricCoxTV) December 5, 2019
Last night, St. Michael School (Orland Park) teachers Rone Leja (1st pic) & Elizabeth Kosteck were walking to their cars after a Christmas party when they were struck by a hit-and-run driver.
Leja was killed.
CLICK FOR MORE FROM @cbschicago: https://t.co/q0SVOQPGcY pic.twitter.com/0yJuMM8daW
The chief of Orland Park police say officers responded to the scene, just after 8 p.m. after a witness called 911.
A spokesperson from St. Michael School in Orland Park confirmed the victims are two teachers at the school who were leaving the Parish Christmas party at the time of the incident.
Class starting late at St. Michael School in Orland Park after the death of teacher Rone Leja.
— Eric Cox (@EricCoxTV) December 5, 2019
She was struck while walking to her car after a Christmas party last night
A 2nd teacher, Elizabeth Kosteck, was also hit. She was released from the hospital this morning.@cbschicago pic.twitter.com/Qd8kB8xSF3
In an email sent to the school community, officials identified the victims as third-grade teacher Mrs. Elizabeth Kosteck and 61-year-old Ms. Rone (Margaret) Leja. School officials confirmed Ms. Leja, who taught technology, died during the incident.
Officials said Kosteck was released from the hospital.
This is 54yo Elizabeth Kosteck, the 2nd person who was struck by the hit-and-run driver.
— Eric Cox (@EricCoxTV) December 5, 2019
She teaches 3rd grade at St. Michael School.
Kosteck is back home after being released from the hospital this morning.@cbschicago pic.twitter.com/zxKXN1m64Z
Orland Park Police chief Tim McCarthy said officers are pulling video from dozens of cameras to track down the driver behind this deadly hit-and-run incident.
The police chief said they are looking for a light-colored vehicle.
School officials said "faculty and parish priests are currently at Silver Cross hospital gathered in prayer for our colleagues." St. Michael School had a late start on Thursday.
"Our faculty is grieving the loss of their dear friend and colleague and will be gathering privately before school opens," school officials said in an email to the community.
"Everybody was very emotional today after the Mass," said Emmett McCarthy, who is a student at the school. "It was very hard for everybody. Escpeciallly the fellow teachers there."
Megan Erzinger was Leja's former student and she recalled when her former teacher was there after her grandmother passed.
"She gave me her phone number and her email and said I understand it's hard losing a loved one," Erzinger said. "And if you ever need me, I'm always here. And ever since then...her and I had a personal relationship outside of school."