Lake Zurich Rallies To Raise Reward In Deadly Hit-And-Run
LAKE ZURICH, Ill. (CBS) -- The Lake Zurich community is rallying around the family of a teenage girl killed in a hit-and-run car accident, by raising funds to help find a suspect in her death.
As WBBM Newsradio's Brandis Friedman reports, the family of Gabriella "Gabby" Drozdz says the reward money for information leading to an arrest is up to $10,000.
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Drozdz, 18, was hit and killed by an unidentified driver in the 100 block of Church Street in Lake Zurich on the evening of July 22, while walking to the local Alpine Festival with friends.
CrimeStoppers committed the initial $5,000 reward, but the rest of the amount was raised by family members and the Lake Zurich community.
"A lot of the initiative – you know, the lemonade stand and the salon – those were ideas that the businesses and people came to us with," said Drozdz's sister, Ilona Gregory.
Some family friends and even strangers also ran the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in Drozdz's honor back on Oct. 9. This coming Saturday, another proceeds from the dance recital at Trilogy Dance in Lake Zurich, this year titled "Dancing for a Star," will go toward the cost of a headstone for Drozdz's grave.
There are leads on the van that hit and killed Drozdz. Shortly after the accident, Lake Zurich police Cmdr. Kevin Finlon said evidence left at the scene of the crash has led investigators either to a GMC Safari or a Chevrolet Astrovan. Police say it is a two-tone van, blue with a second lighter color, possibly silver or gray.
The models could have possibly been made between 1985 and 1994, and police say the vehicle involved in the hit and run would have damage to the side turn signal and marker light.
