A Chicago woman has been charged with fatally hitting a Waukegan man, who was a U.S. Army veteran, with her car and fleeing the scene in North Chicago.
The North Chicago Fire Department and North Chicago Police Department responded around 8:45 p.m. on November 10, 2022, to Lewis Avenue and 17th Street.
It was reported that a vehicle struck a pedestrian at the intersection, according to emergency radio traffic.
Officers arrived to find the victim unconscious and not breathing.
Paramedics arrived and confirmed the pedestrian was deceased at the scene, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office.
An autopsy showed that Eugene Durrly, 56, of Waukegan, died as a result of blunt force trauma from a crash.
An alert sent out to area police departments said the vehicle that struck Durrly fled the scene following the collision.
The alert said the suspect vehicle was a blue 2012 Chevy Cruz LX. The car reportedly fled northbound on Lewis Avenue.
Officers shut down Lewis Avenue at the scene to conduct an investigation.
The Major Crash Assistance Team of Lake County (MCAT) was requested to the scene to assist in the investigation.
An obituary for Durrly said he enlisted in the military at 18 and served in the U.S. Army from 1983 to 1992.
“Gene served in many ways throughout his life from a correctional officer, health care provider, program support clerk, health tech screener, helping the needy in food care service, and also as a greeter,” the obituary said.
“But most importantly he was a loving and caring father, grandfather, and friend and he loved his children and grandchildren more than life itself. Gene was also beyond caring and always there to help others even when he didnโt have it, he would still always try,” the obituary added.
A Lake County grand jury this month returned a two-count indictment against Jasmine C. Bridges, 25, of Chicago.
Bridges was charged with two counts of leaving the scene of a crash involving death or injury.
One of the counts is a Class 1 felony that carries four to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if convicted.
The indictment said Bridges was the driver of the vehicle that killed Durrly.
The indictment said the woman failed to remain at the scene and failed to report the incident to the police within the required 30 minutes.
Court records show Bridges has retained attorney James Schwarzbach and is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday for an initial hearing.
In November, a civil lawsuit was filed by Durrly’s family against Bridges in Lake County Circuit Court.