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Prosecutors: Driver Intentionally Killed Man With Car in Dunning, Fled the Scene

4:38 PM CST on March 2, 2017

The 8900 block of West Belmont. Image: Google Street View

The Cook County state’s attorney's office says a suburban man intentionally ran over Jonathan Gonzalez, 34, last month in Dunning and fled the scene, according to a DNAinfo report.

On Tuesday, February 21, at about 7:50 p.m., Gonzalez had driven his wife to a friend’s apartment and was sitting in the parking lot when Emmanuel Diaz, 32, a former friend of Gonzalez, drove up in a 2013 Nissan Sentra, prosecutors said. Diaz allegedly shouted at the couple before they drove away.

Diaz then followed Gonzalez and his wife and the two drivers swerved towards each other, according to prosecutors. When both men were stopped at a light on the 8900 block of West Belmont, Gonzalez got out of his car and approached Diaz, who was stopped behind him.

Prosecutors said Diaz then drove around Gonzalez’s car, striking the man. He then allegedly backed up over the injured man, pulled forward, and drove away. Gonzalez’s wife attempted CPR until EMTs arrived and transported him to Loyola University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The victim had suffered broken bones and bleeding on the brain.

Diaz, who lives in Franklin park, surrendered to police on Tuesday, according to prosecutors. So far he has only been charged with failure to report a crash resulting in a death.

Judge Peggy Chiampas said at a hearing yesterday that if Diaz qualifies for electronic monitoring he may be released on his own recognizance until the trial takes place, DNA reported. Otherwise, bail will be set at $50,000.

Fatality Tracker: 2017 Chicago pedestrian and bicyclist deaths
Pedestrian: 6 (three were hit-and-run crashes)
Bicyclist: 1

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