Driver Intentionally Runs Over Man in South Austin After Dispute

The crash site, Madison and Central.

A motorist was charged with murder after he intentionally ran over a man with his car in South Austin.

Early Saturday morning, Darrell Cooper, 41, of the first block of North Lorel, got in a verbal altercation with Artez McBride, 20, who lived one block west on Long Street, according to Officer José Estrada. Cooper brandished a large stick against McBride, who fled on foot.

Soon afterwards, Cooper caught up with McBride in his 2010 Chevrolet Malibu near Central Avenue and Madison Street. As McBride was crossing Central, Cooper accelerated towards him and struck him, dragging the victim a short distance, witnesses said. The driver then fled the scene.

McBride was pronounced dead from multiple injuries at 2:23 a.m. Saturday at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. "They ran him down in the middle of the street and left him there to die," McBride's mother Tiffany told WGN-TV. The victim had previously worked summers for the Chicago Park District and had been involved with the city’s After School Matters program for several years, his family said.

Cooper left the car at his mother’s home, then turned himself in to the police at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Estrada said. Cooper made statements admitting his involvement in the crash, according to court records. At a hearing on Sunday, he was charged with first-degree murder and ordered held on $750,000 bail.

Fatality Tracker: 2014 Chicago pedestrian and bicyclist deaths

Pedestrian: 12 (4 were hit-and-run crashes)
Bicyclist: 0