Recent Chicago Pedestrian and Bicycle Fatalities

Man Fleeing Police Fatally Strikes 13-Month-Old Boy in Stroller

Dillan Harris, a 13-month-old boy who was sitting in a stroller, was run over and killed by a driver who was being chased by police in the wake of a gunshot murder, prosecutors said.

On Saturday, July 11, at around 1:40 p.m., an off-duty police officer saw Antoine Watkins, 21, “calmly” walking away from the location where local rapper Marvin “Capo” Carr had just been murdered, at 77th and Kingston in South Shore, according to prosecutors. Watkins then entered a red Toyota Avalon and drove away.

The officer called 911 to report the license plate number, and then drove after Watkins for several blocks, according to prosecutors. Other police officers pursued Watkins and pulled him over near 65th and Richards. When the officers exited their vehicle and approached his car, Watkins sped off, reaching speeds of 60-70 mph on 63rd Street, which has a 30 mph speed limit. Officers in several vehicles pursued him.

At 63rd and Ellis in Woodlawn, Watkins lost control of his car, struck a light pole, and careened onto the sidewalk by a bus stop, where Harris was in a stroller, prosecutors said. Watkins fled the scene in his car, dragging the boy and the stroller under the vehicle.

The driver crashed the car in a nearby alley, where he was soon apprehended by police officers, prosecutors said. Harris was transported to University of Chicago Comer Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to the police.

Watkins, of the 8100 block of South Bennett in South Shore, was charged with the murder of Harris, fleeing police, and driving without a license or insurance. At a hearing on July 13, he was ordered held without bail.

Driver Struck and Killed Man, 59, in Portage Park

A 59-year-old man was fatally struck by a driver in the Portage Park neighborhood last Thursday, July 23, according to officials.

At 4:48 p.m., motorist Alejandro Rosas, 27, struck the pedestrian on the 3500 block of North Central Avenue, police said. The victim, whose name has not yet been released, pending notification of kin, was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 6:53 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Rosas, of the 6400 block of North Glenwood in Rogers Park, was cited for driving without insurance and failure to exercise due care for a pedestrian in the roadway, police said. A court date is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25.

Driver Fatally Strikes Man, 52, Who Was Walking His Bicycle

An SUV driver struck and killed a man who was walking his bicycle on the Near West Side, according to police.

Last Saturday, July 25, around 11:40 p.m., the victim, 52, was attempting to walk his bike across Western at Congress, police said. According to witnesses, the man was crossing against the light.

The driver of a southbound 2014 Kia SUV tried to swerve to avoid striking the man, but was unable to avoid hitting him, witnesses said. The victim was transported to Stroger Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. As of Sunday, his identity has not been released, pending notification of kin.

The SUV driver, a 58-year-old man, stayed on the scene and was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

Fatality Tracker: 2015 Chicago pedestrian and bicyclist deaths
Pedestrian: 22 (8 were hit-and-run crashes)
Bicyclist: 2 (both were hit-and-run crashes)