Two suspect drivers have been charged after they allegedly struck and killed a 17-year-old boy riding his bicycle before fleeing the scene in Waukegan.
The Waukegan Police Department and Waukegan Fire Department responded around 12:45 a.m. on November 10 to the area of Belvidere Road and Fulton Avenue for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
Emergency crews arrived to find a male victim who had been struck by a vehicle.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek said Jorge Carmona, 17, of Waukegan, was unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene.
The Waukegan Police Department Major Crash Unit was on the scene for several hours investigating the hit-and-run, which left the boy deceased in the middle of Belvidere Road.
Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Scott Chastain said Thursday that the investigation showed Carmona, who was a student, was riding a bicycle in the westbound lanes of traffic.
Carmona, while in the roadway, was then struck by a second vehicle. Both vehicles fled the scene.
Two vehicles of interest were identified, Chastain said. One of them was located on November 13 in Waukegan.
A search warrant was obtained for the vehicle and it was seized for evidence and processed.
A passenger in the vehicle was interviewed and confirmed the crash occurred.
The second vehicle of interest was located on November 14 in Vernon Hills.
The vehicle was seized and towed to the Waukegan Police Department where it was processed for evidence.
The driver was interviewed and gave a statement acknowledging hitting something with their vehicle, Chastain said.
The case was screened with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office for charges.
Court records show Monica A. Valladolid, 44, of Vernon Hills, was charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving injury or death, a Class 4 felony.
A second suspect, Jose U. Ramirez, 34, of Waukegan, was charged with reckless homicide, a Class 3 felony, and leaving the scene of a crash involving injury or death, a Class 4 felony.
Court documents said Ramirez disobeyed a stop sign before crashing into the juvenile bicyclist.
Arrest warrants were issued for Valladolid and Ramirez. Ramirez and Valladolid were both in police custody on Monday.
Valladolid appeared in court on Monday morning for a First Appearance Court hearing.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed petitions to detain Ramirez and Valladolid pending trial.
Valladolid is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing on Monday afternoon. It is unclear when Ramirez is set to appear in court.