EMT Charged With Fatal North Suburban Hit-And-Run
SKOKIE, Ill. (STMW) -- A 36-year-old EMT arrested seven times in the past was ordered held on a $100,000 bond Friday after being charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident in the northwest suburbs earlier this week.
Kristian Hernandez of the 8200 block of Knox Avenue in Skokie was charged with leaving the scene of and failure to report an accident resulting in death, a Class 1 felony, according to the Cook County Sheriff's office.
On Monday, someone riding a bicycle on Touhy Avenue near the Axehead Lake Forest Preserve in Maine Township saw a body lying in the grass just off the road. The cyclist called 911 and sheriff's police found the body of Ronald Bougan, 53, of Park Ridge.
Sheriff's detectives sent out information about the accident and a possible offending vehicle, and began canvassing local body shops for a vehicle matching damaged parts found at the scene.
They found that a man had brought in a black Dodge Challenger for a repair estimate at an auto body shop in Skokie. The vehicle matched the description of the possible offending vehicle and had damages consistent with the investigation, a release from the sheriff's office said.
Detectives learned the driver worked as an EMT for a private ambulance company in Skokie and set up surveillance. Hernandez was taken into custody Wednesday and admitted being involved in Bougan's death, the release said.
Cook County Det. Eric Bernson says he's surprised by the way Hernandez allegedly acted after striking Bougan.
"He has the duty to act," Bernson told CBS 2's Mike Parker Friday. "He should have stopped and rendered aid to our victim."
Hernandez has been arrested seven times in the past, including a violation of an order of protection, domestic battery and possession of a stolen vehicle, the release said.
His next court date is set for Dec. 4 at the Skokie courthouse.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
