The coroner has identified a grocery store employee who was fatally struck by a car as he tried crossing Sheridan Road in Zion Monday evening, with his family describing him as the “nicest guy.”
The Zion Fire Rescue Department and Zion Police Department 5:46 p.m. Monday to the area of 33rd Street and Sheridan Road in Zion for a vehicle crash with injuries.
First responders arrived and found a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian.
Officers who were first on scene began performing CPR on the victim, who was unconscious and not breathing, according to fire department radio traffic.
Paramedics took over lifesaving measures and rushed the victim to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan.
Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified him Tuesday as Darren Lucas, 59, of Beach Park, and said he was pronounced dead in the emergency room.
An autopsy performed on Lucas on Tuesday showed he died as a result of blunt force injuries from the collision.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) responded to conduct the crash reconstruction and investigation.
Officers shut down Sheridan Road between 31st Street and 33rd Street while investigators worked at the scene.
Zion Police Department Lt. Paul Kehrli said a 2015 Ford utility vehicle was traveling on Sheridan Road when it struck Lucas.
Lucas was attempting to cross Sheridan Road just south of 33rd Street when he was hit.
The driver of the Ford, a 43-year-old Zion woman, remained at the scene, called 911 and has been cooperating fully with the investigation, Kehrli said.
Kehrli said drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the crash but laboratory results are pending.
Chris King, Lucas’ son-in-law, said his family is blessed to have the support of the community.
“He played a great role in [us] finding humor when humor is needed,” King said.
“I personally just lost a great friend, while so many lost much more, hope… hope that if this guy can make people happy, no matter their background or affiliation, at his own expense at times. But we loved him for who he was, and the light that he shone on our lives,” King added.
King described Lucas as the “nicest guy I’ve known” and said his father-in-law worked at the former Piggly Wiggly, which is now Torres Fresh Market, across the street from where he was struck by the vehicle.
No citations or charges have been filed yet and the investigation remains ongoing by MCAT.