A late-night crossing on Harlem Avenue turned deadly early Sunday in Bridgeview when a car struck a pedestrian and kept going, according to police. The victim, identified as Juan Villagomez, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he later died.
Bridgeview police said that around 1:35 a.m., officers were called to Harlem Avenue at 71st Street after a southbound vehicle hit a man in the roadway and then continued driving, CBS Chicago reported. Investigators later found the suspected vehicle in the 8600 block of South Harlem Avenue and had it removed from the scene.
Driver Says She Thought She Hit a Dog
Officers identified the driver as Abigail Mason of Cicero. Police said she “acknowledged hitting something she believed was a dog,” according to CBS Chicago. Mason was later charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash, officials said.
Victim Identified and Crash Scene
Police said Juan and Claudia Villagomez were crossing from the area of The Krash bar to the east side of Harlem Avenue when a red Chevrolet Impala, traveling in the median lane of southbound Harlem, struck Juan. He was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Harlem Avenue was shut down while officers processed the crash scene, documented evidence, and reconstructed what happened in the moments before impact…