A jury found a Zion woman guilty Wednesday on charges that she fatally struck a bicyclist with an SUV in Waukegan and fled the scene, leaving the 37-year-old father to die.
Linda J. Ray, 47, of Zion, was charged in July 2020 with leaving the scene of an accident causing death and failure to report an accident involving death.
The Waukegan Police Department said that Chad Aiello, 37, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, was riding his bicycle around 11:30 p.m. on June 4, 2020.
Officers found Aiello, a father of one, badly injured in the 3600 block of North Lewis Avenue.
Police said that an ambulance transported Aiello to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he was later pronounced dead.
The Waukegan Police Department’s Major Crash Unit (MCU) was called to investigate.
Investigators learned Aiello was riding a bicycle southbound on Lewis Avenue in the northbound lanes.
A black 2015 Cadillac SUV, driven by Ray, was traveling northbound on Lewis Avenue when it struck the bicyclist and fled the scene, police said.
A jury trial concluded Wednesday and jurors found Ray guilty of aggravated leaving the scene of an accident involving death.
The courtroom was filled with Aiello’s family and friends throughout the trial.
Assistant State’s Attorneys Scott Hoffert and Lauren Kalcheim Rothenberg prosecuted the case.
Ray, who faces up to 15 years in prison, is scheduled to appear in court again on May 18 for a sentencing hearing.