The coroner has released the identity of an 81-year-old man who died after an SUV hit him as he tried crossing Milwaukee Avenue in Lincolnshire, shutting down the busy roadway for hours Tuesday evening.
An autopsy performed Wednesday showed Bijan Vaziri, 81, of Lincolnshire, died as a result of blunt force injuries as a result of a vehicle crash, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
The Lincolnshire Police Department and Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District responded around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday to Milwaukee Avenue near Knightsbridge Parkway for a vehicle crash with injuries.
Lincolnshire Police Department Sergeant Jason Zange said officers arrived and found a pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle.
The victim, later identified as Vaziri, was unconscious and not breathing.
Good Samaritans had begun lifesaving measures and first responders took over care, Zange said.
The efforts were unsuccessful and Vaziri was pronounced dead at the scene.
Zange said a preliminary investigation showed that the vehicle, a Dodge Durango, was traveling southbound on Milwaukee Avenue.
The Dodge, driven by a 58-year-old Prospect Heights man, struck Vaziri while he attempted to cross Milwaukee Avenue on foot.
The driver told investigators he did not see the pedestrian and struck him as he drove southbound.
The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, Zange said.
Impairment is not suspected to be a contributing factor in the crash but the driver submitted to chemical testing and the results are pending.
Milwaukee Avenue was completely shut down between Route 22 and Aptakisic Road for several hours.
The roadway was reopened around 11:30 p.m. after the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) responded to conduct crash reconstruction and evidence collection.
The Lincolnshire Police Department is working in conjunction with the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) to conduct a thorough investigation, Zange said.
A woman told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that she was driving home from work and saw the victim lying on the ground.
The driver involved was next to his car on the phone and the woman stopped at the scene. She initially diverted traffic so other motorists would not hit Vaziri.
The woman, along with a second woman, checked the victim for a pulse when a third woman, who was a nurse, also stopped.
One of the women called 911 while the nurse and the first woman who stopped rolled the victim over while checking for signs of a pulse. They then began performing CPR.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has additional information is asked to call the Lincolnshire Police Department at 847-883-9900.
The crash remains under active investigation by MCAT and the Lincolnshire Police Department.