ELWOOD, Ill. — A Wilmington man, who was biking to work because his car previously broke down, was struck and killed in a rural hit-and-run last week.
De’Avion Smith, 25, was believed to be struck between 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 24 by a black 2007-2013 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. The hit-and-run happened on Route 53 at Thele Road in Elwood and Smith was located by police the following morning at around 8:30 a.m.
The Texas native, who moved to the Joliet area for a marriage in 2021, was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
“He was naturally funny and would tickle me pink,” mother Tashondra Smith told WGN News. “His little brother has autism and took it really hard. He just keeps saying ‘momma that was my only brother.’”
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Smith settled in Wilmington after getting divorced and was working at Amazon in Joliet and Burger King to make ends meet…