Driver In Custody, Police Seek Witnesses To West Englewood Hit-And-Run
Updated 06/11/13 - 6:28 a.m.
(STMW) -- Chicago Police are seeking public assistance as they investigate a hit-and-run accident in the West Englewood neighborhood earlier this week that left a 65-year-old woman and her grandson with life-threatening injuries.
About 6 p.m. Monday a teal-colored Pontiac Montana minivan struck the woman and her 14-year-old grandson as they crossed the street in the 6400 block of South Paulina Avenue, police said.
Both pedestrians suffered "serious, life-threatening injuries" in the crash, while the minivan fled the scene of the South Side crash, police said.
The woman was initially taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in serious condition, but is now listed in critical condition as of late Monday, authorities said.
Her 14-year-old grandson was taken to University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital of Cook County in serious-to-critical condition, but is now listed in fair condition.
A 21-year-old man who was behind the wheel of the van was taken into custody a short time later when officers spotted a vehicle matching the description near the 6300 block of South Throop Avenue, police said. Charges against the man are pending, police said.
In a community alert police said a male "person of interest" was being questioned. But investigators are still hoping community members may be able to provide eyewitness accounts of the crash.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Chicago police Major Accident Investigation Unit at (312) 745-4521.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
