A 15-year-old high school student was struck and killed by a vehicle wanted in connection with several hit-and-run crashes in a Chicago suburb Monday, officials said.
Chicago Ridge police said the crash happened as they were monitoring the southwest suburb for a 2007 Volkswagen Bug wanted in numerous hit-and-run accidents in Oak Lawn.
Just before 8 a.m., officers spotted a car matching that description traveling southbound on Central Avenue as it crossed through the 107th Street intersection.
The officer who spotted the vehicle pulled a U-turn and got behind it just before the car struck a 15-year-old Richards High School student who was walking along the 10700 block of Central Avenue, according to authorities.
The vehicle fled the scene as the officer stopped to help the victim, who had suffered severe injuries to the upper body, police said. The teen was taken to Christ Hospital where she later died from her injuries.
Another Chicago Ridge police officer stopped the vehicle several blocks away and the 25-year-old driver was taken into custody, authorities said.
Oak Lawn police said the car involved was suspected in at least three hit-and-runs prior to the fatal crash. In those incidents the driver hit two moving vehicles at 95th and Central and a third vehicle at 97th and Central, authorities said. No injuries were involved in the earlier crashes, police said.
Local
The identity of the teen and the driver, who was from Oak Lawn, were not immediately released Monday afternoon. Police said an investigation remained ongoing and charges had not yet been filed. Chicago Ridge police said alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash.
