Hit-and-Run Driver Killed Joseph Ruta, 56, in Lakeview

A driver fatally struck Joseph Ruta, 56, in a Lakeview alley last Thursday, August 1, and fled the scene, leaving him to die, police said.

Ruta was discovered around 11 a.m. lying in an alley in the 1000 block of West Oakdale and transported to Advocate Illinois Medical Center, police said. The victim, who lived on the 2700 block of North Marshfield, was pronounced dead at 5:58 p.m. that day, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

On Friday an autopsy determined that Ruta died from multiple injuries from being run over by a driver, according to the medical examiner. The death was ruled an accident.

Police have not released a description of the vehicle from the crash. As of this afternoon, the driver had not been apprehended, police said.

Fatality Tracker: 2019 Chicago pedestrian and bicyclist deaths on surface streets
Pedestrian: 20
Bicyclist: 0

Note: Streetsblog Chicago’s traffic death numbers represent fatal crashes on Chicago surface streets, based on preliminary Chicago Police Department data for January though May 2019 released by the Chicago Department of Transportation, plus media reports for July and August.