Chicago, IL (August 12, 2020) – A 55-year-old woman killed and her 20-year-old daughter injured following a deadly hit-and-run accident on Wednesday, August 11, on Chicago’s Near North Side. The pair were reportedly traveling on Hubbard Street when they were struck by a male driving a silver Ford Explorer SUV.
At around 10:30, Zoraleigh Ryan from Chandler, Arizona was struck by the driver and dragged for nearly half a block. Ryan was pronounced dead at the scene by the Cook County medical examiner’s office. The second victim, reportedly the woman’s daughter, was treated at a nearby hospital and later released.
Nearby officers reportedly attempted to stop the driver, but he fled the scene of the accident. The driver was later taken into custody and identified as 25-year-old Edgar Roman. Edgar reportedly abandoned his SUV and declared it stolen to authorities. Roman was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, filing a false report, and leaving the scene of an accident causing injury or death.
An ongoing investigation into the accident is currently in progress.
We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the families of Zoraleigh Ryan and the other deceased victim at this time.
Deadly Hit-&-Run Crashes in Chicago
More and more hit-and-run crashes are happening each year. Since 2006, an average of 682,000 hit-and-run accidents have been reported across the United States each year. Nearly 65% of those killed in hit-and-run collisions are pedestrians or cyclists. Hit-and-run fatalities have increased by an average of 7.2% each year since 2009. Deadly hit-and-run crashes hit an all-time high in 2016, with 2,049 deadly hit-and-runs taking place that year. Fleeing the scene of a car accident is illegal in Illinois, and doing so can leave injured parties unable to pursue much needed compensation.
The grief and devastation of losing a loved one due to another’s negligence are nearly unbearable. Surviving family members often take on damages resulting from the accident, and they may be able to recover lost compensation by pursuing a wrongful death claim with the help of an experienced Illinois personal injury attorney. In an Illinois wrongful death claim, a representative of the decedent’s estate — usually a close family member — seeks damages from those at fault for the person’s death to obtain compensation for damages.
At Kent M. Lucaccioni, Ltd., we understand the grief and pain that families experience when a family member is killed. While no amount of money can bring back a lost family member, a Chicago wrongful death lawsuit can help families address the financial difficulties associated with the accident. Our legal team is dedicated to making sure that each of our clients recovers the compensation they deserve after losing a loved one in a deadly Chicago pedestrian accident. Contact our offices today at 877-930-2551 to see what our Illinois wrongful death lawyers can do for you.
Note: As a result of the secondary sources that were used to complete this post, the information included within has not been independently verified by our own staff and may include misinformation. If you read something that, to your knowledge, is incorrect, please contact us as soon as possible and we will correct the inaccuracy.
Disclaimer: As members of the local Chicago and broader Illinois community, we hope everyone in our community is safe and protected. We cover the events included in this blog as a way to offer support to the victims in similar circumstances and to provide relief during these difficult times. This is not a solicitation for business, and this information should not be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. You should speak with a trained legal professional for more information regarding your situation. The photographs depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene.
