A 14-year-old girl was killed and two of the girl’s family members were hospitalized after they were struck by a vehicle that fled the scene in Waukegan Sunday evening, police said.
The Waukegan Fire Department and Waukegan Police Department responded around 9:30 p.m. Sunday to the intersection of Crescent Avenue and Garrick Avenue in Waukegan for a crash with injuries.
Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Joe Florip said officers arrived to find a serious crash involving a vehicle and three pedestrians.
The Waukegan Police Department Major Crash Unit (MCU) was called to the scene due to the seriousness.
MCU investigators believe that a white 2011 Dodge Challenger was traveling eastbound on Crescent Avenue approaching Garrick Avenue.
An adult male in his 40s, a 14-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy were walking their bikes on the south side of Crescent Avenue.
The Dodge struck the three pedestrians as they walked eastbound and fled the scene, Florip said.
The three pedestrians, who are family members, are all Waukegan residents.
The 14-year-old girl was transported to an area hospital where she died from her injuries, Florip said.
The adult male and the 14-year-old boy were transported to an area hospital with moderate injuries. Both were treated and released.
Officers located the Dodge parked in the 2400 block of Dakota Road.
The Dodge was seized as evidence and the driver was arrested.
Florip identified the driver as Jhonatan Lopez-Castaneda, 31, of Waukegan.
He has been charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash and driving without a valid driver’s license.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Lopez-Castaneda held on a $1 million bond.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on August 8.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office is withholding the victim’s name pending an autopsy scheduled for Monday.