
The coroner’s office has released the identity of a 70-year-old man who was fatally hit by a vehicle that fled the scene on Route 41 in Waukegan earlier this month.
The Waukegan Police Department and Waukegan Fire Department responded around 6:37 p.m. on January 4 to the area of HownTowne Studios by Red Roof, 1177 South Northpoint Boulevard, for a report of a person down call.
Multiple 911 callers reported seeing a person down in the roadway on Route 41.
Officers arrived and learned an adult male victim was struck by a vehicle in the southbound lanes of Route 41, according to Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton.
Newton said the man was found with critical injuries and pronounced dead at the scene, which was near Route 41 and Northpoint Boulevard.
Newton said Thursday that the victim was identified as 70-year-old Waukegan resident Fidel Escovar-Sanchez, who was also known as Jose Salgado.
A witness told Lake and McHenry County Scanner she was traveling home and almost ran over the body, which was in the right lane.
The witness called 911 immediately and provided information to the dispatcher.
“By the time I came back upon the scene, there were police and a ton more coming. I have seen people over the years walking on 41… so not safe,” the woman said.
Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Scott Chastain said a callout was made through the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) for multiple area police departments to respond to the scene for traffic control.
Mundelein, Lake Forest, Lindenhurst, Lake County Forest Preserve, Lincolnshire, Vernon Hills, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, North Chicago, Grayslake and Highland Park sent officers to assist.
Chastain said the crash resulted in a significant debris field which required shutting down the roadway.
The Waukegan Police Department Major Crash Unit responded to secure and process the scene.
Southbound Route 41 at Route 120 was shut down for several hours during the investigation.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office was called to the scene and performed an autopsy on Escovar-Sanchez on January 6 which showed he died from blunt force injuries as a result of being struck by a motor vehicle.
The coroner’s office was initially unable to get into contact with any family members of Escovar-Sanchez, delaying his positive identification and the release of his identity.
Newton said the coroner’s office “worked tirelessly” to confirm Escovar-Sanchez’s identity. The office worked with Illinois State Police and the Mexican consulate in conjunction with criminal records from Wisconsin.
Authorities were eventually able to get into contact with Escovar-Sanchez’s brother, who was visually able to positively identify him on Tuesday, more than two weeks following the crash.
Chastain said the vehicle involved fled the area prior to officers arriving and the investigation remains ongoing. No arrests have been announced.
Newton said toxicology testing showed Escovar-Sanchez, who was living at the HomeTowne Studios, was not under the influence of anything at the time he was struck.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Waukegan Police Department Traffic Division at 847-599-2567.
Anonymous tips can be sent to the police department by texting 847411 using the keyword WPDTIP.