A woman was killed after she was struck by a vehicle while walking in Waukegan on New Year’s Day with the driver fleeing the scene before being arrested.
The Waukegan Police Department and Waukegan Fire Department responded around 4:45 a.m. Wednesday to the area of Lewis Avenue and Jenkinson Court in Waukegan.
A 911 caller reported a person down in the street and unresponsive.
Paramedics and officers arrived to find a 44-year-old woman who had been struck by a vehicle, according to Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton.
Newton said the woman, whose town of residence is unknown, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Prosecutors said investigators searched for surveillance video and began using the Flock license plate reader system.
A vehicle driving in the area at the time was identified as a potential suspect vehicle based on debris at the scene.
Investigators located the vehicle and it had heavy front end damage, a cracked windshield and a missing side mirror, prosecutors said.
The side mirror was recovered at the scene of the crash and matched the car.
Prosecutors said the driver of the car had left a New Year’s Eve party after having been observed drinking and being intoxicated.
The suspect admitted to driving home alone and being involved in an accident, which he said he believed he hit a raccoon.
The suspect was arrested and charges are pending.
Lewis Avenue was shut down between Monroe Street to Washington Street for at least five hours during the investigation.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office has scheduled an autopsy on the victim for Thursday. Her identity is being withheld until the autopsy.