Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
Police are looking for two hit-and-run vehicles involved in striking elderly pedestrians crossing Cottage Grove in separate accidents on Wednesday.
An 80-year-old man has been killed after being run down in a Chicago pedestrian accident by a driver who fled the scene, CBS2 reported.
Residents near Cottage Grove and 53rd Street said the area is a dangerous crossing for pedestrians, particularly the elderly. He was killed less than a block from his apartment as he tried to cross the street. Police say the accident happened shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday. The victim, who used a cane, was thrown onto the hood of the vehicle for a short distance before the driver fled the scene in a vehicle police believe was either gray or white.
Residence say the area near the CTA stop lacks a stop sign or a marked crosswalk and pedestrians and bus passengers face the danger on a daily basis. Police say drivers have a responsibility to yield to pedestrians whether or not there is a marked crosswalk.
Earlier Wednesday, an 89-year-old woman was seriously injured after being struck in a hit-and-run pedestrian accident in the 6700 block of Cottage Grove Avenue. That accident involved a female driver and a maroon vehicle, possibly a Buick. Police report the woman was hit about 1:40 p.m. Wednesday, according to ABC 7.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chicago Police Department Major Accident Investigation Unit at (312) 745-4521.
As we reported last month on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, spring and summer is a deadly time for Illinois pedestrian accidents. A total of 135 people were killed in Illinois pedestrian accidents in 2008, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Click here for pedestrian safety tips.
In 2008, pedestrian accidents killed 4,378 people and injured more than 69,000, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.