Pedestrian Lida Xhelo Killed After SUV Driver Collides With Another Vehicle

The crash site.

A Belmont-Craigin woman is dead after being struck by an SUV driver who had crashed into a second car.

Around 6:40 p.m. Tuesday, the SUV driver was traveling south on Austin Avenue and made an abrupt left turn to head east on Belmont Avenue, according to Officer José Estrada from Police News Affairs. The driver struck another motorist’s car and then careened northbound, Estrada said.

The SUV driver then struck a woman on the north sidewalk of Belmont, just east of Austin, Estrada said. A photo posted by ABC7 shows that the vehicle crashed through a wrought-iron fence and came to rest on the front lawn of St. Patrick High School.

The woman was transported to Our Lady of Resurrection Medical Center and pronounced dead at 7:03 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. She was identified as Lida Xhelo, of the 6000 block of West Eddy, a block south of the crash site, the medical examiner’s office said.

The SUV driver is in custody and charges are pending, Estrada said.

Updated November 6: Police have identified the SUV driver as Maciej Machniewicz, 45, of the 4400 block of West Barry. He was charged with a felony count of aggravated driving under the influence that resulted in a death. He was also cited three misdemeanors, including for driving without a license. Machniewicz is scheduled to appear in bond court today.

Fatality Tracker: 2014 Chicago pedestrian and bicyclist deaths
Pedestrian: 23 (6 were hit-and-run crashes)
Bicyclist: 7 (1 was a hit-and-run crash)