Charges have been filed in a crash where a 38-year-old pedestrian was fatally struck by a hit-and-run vehicle, which was witnessed by the police, on Route 12 in Lake Zurich.
The Lake Zurich Police Department responded around 11:43 p.m. on December 17, 2022, to the 700 block of South Rand Road in Lake Zurich.
Lake Zurich Deputy Police Chief David Anderson said at the time that a call was made for a report of a male subject walking in the roadway.
Officers arrived in the area and observed a dark-colored SUV hit the pedestrian, who was walking on Route 12.
The vehicle fled the scene and continued southbound on Route 12, Anderson said.
Officers performed lifesaving efforts on the victim until the Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department arrived.
The victim, Jose Portillo, 38, of Lake Zurich, was pronounced dead at the scene, Anderson said.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was called to the scene to conduct a crash investigation.
Southbound Route 12 between Deerpath Road and June Terrace was closed for several hours while the investigation was completed.
Earlier this month, a Lake County grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Gary L. Bozza, 67, of Arlington Heights, in connection with the incident.
Bozza was charged with two counts of failure to report a crash involving death, a Class 1 felony and a Class 4 felony.
A grand jury indictment said Bozza was the driver of the suspect vehicle and failed to stop at the scene after striking Portillo.
Bozza faces four to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections if convicted of the most serious charge against him.
Bozza is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for an arraignment hearing.