Hit-and-run drive who killed Sarah Milcarek, 25, on 5-lane Irving Park Road, arrested after causing multi-vehicle crash, fleeing another motorist, and striking tree

Tragically, last Saturday, August 8, around 9:22 p.m., a sedan driver fatally struck Sarah Milcarek, 25, on the 1400 west block of Irving Park Road in Lakeview.

According to the initial police statement, “preliminary investigation indicates that [Milcarek] walked in between two parked vehicles onto the street near the above location and was struck by a dark blue sedan [driver].” The report says the motorist fled west on Irving Park. struck a dark-colored SUV and “caused a chain collision with a black sedan.”

“After the second collision, the driver from the dark-colored SUV attempted to detain the male offender,” the CPD statement continues. “The offender then entered his vehicle and fled the scene again and struck a tree. A witness stated the offender fled on foot and entered a building near the 4000 block of N. Ashland.” He was eventually located and arrested. Charges are pending.

The police statement says Milcarek was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The drivers of the SUV and the black sedan declined medical attention.

The crash took place on the border of the 46th and 47th wards.

Last Wednesday, August 5, in the 47th Ward, around 3:37 a semi truck driver and Alex Blacio, 16, riding an e-scooter, crashed at 4025 N. Western Ave. in North Center, and Blacio died from injuries. Milcarnek’s collision three days later took place just over a mile east of Wednesday’s crash.

Irving Park is a five-lane “stroad,” a highway-like street through a densely populated area, which makes speeding and deadly crashes more likely. The road, also known as IL-19, is under Illinois Department of Transportation jurisdiction, and IDOT has historically prioritized moving motorized vehicles quickly through the city over creating safe conditions for pedestrians and bike riders.

In June 2022, 47th Ward volunteer Peter Paquette, 75, was fatally struck by a distracted driver while trying to cross Irving Park at Hoyne Avenue in North Center, less than a mile from Milcarek’s crash site, while leaving an event at local Ald. Matt Martin’s office. The following January, Martin announces pedestrian improvements on Irving Park in that neighborhood, after IDOT was persuaded to stop obstructing them.

According to Sarah Milcarek’s obituary, she previously lived in southwest suburban New Lennox, IL, and was living in Chicago at the time of her death.

The website for Chicago-based Workplace Law Partners states that Milcarek was an “Associate Employment Attorney handling employment discrimination and severance negotiations.” It adds, “Sarah comes from a proud union family, which sparked her passion for helping workers’ rights and striving for justice and equality in the workplace.”

Milcarek’s obituary says that she was engaged to be married. “Sarah was a devoted animal lover, especially to her beloved cat, Penny Lane,” it states. “She found joy in music, all things Disney and Star Wars, and her collection of stuffed animals. She also loved reading and savoring a good cup of coffee. Sarah will be remembered for her quick wit, kind spirit, and the unique joy she brought to those around her. She will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know and love her.”

Fatality Tracker: 2026 Chicago pedestrian and bicyclist deaths on surface streets

Pedestrian: 18

Bicycle or e-scooter: 6

2026 Chicago pedestrian fatalities

• On Wednesday, January 7, around 8:44 a.m., a 42-year-old woman driving an SUV fatally struck a man, 64, crossing at 9498 S. Lafayette Ave. in Roseland.

• On Monday, February 16, around 4:12 p.m., a 37-year-old female truck driver struck and killed a woman, 63, in the 7200 block of West Bryn Mawr Avenue in Norwood Park.

• On Monday, February 16, before 7:30 p.m., a hit-and-run driver fatally struck a man, 69, in the 11900 block of South Halsted Street in West Pullman.

• On Tuesday, March 3, around 6:15 PM, an SUV driver, 70, fatally struck a female pedestrian in the 4000 block of West Foster Avenue in the North Park neighborhood.

• On Wednesday, March 11, sometime before 10 p.m., a hit-and-run driver fatally struck a woman, 32, in the 2100 block of East 83rd Street in South Chicago.

• On Friday, March 13, at around 12:06 p.m., the left-turning driver of a large vehicle fatally struck a pedestrian in a crosswalk at 3960 W. 26th St. in Little Village.

• On Sunday, April 12, around 9 p.m., a 17-year-old girl driving an SUV fatally struck a Fontella Wyatt, 43, crossing Ogden Avenue at Ashland Avenue on the Near West Side.

• On Sunday, April 19, at about 9:30 p.m., a hit-and-run pickup truck driver struck and killed Minerva Martinez, 65, in a crosswalk at Belmont and Central avenues in Belmont Cragin.

• On Monday, April 20, around 6 p.m., a semi-truck driver fatally struck Autumn Perez, 29, at 6341 S. Western Ave. in Chicago Lawn.

• On Tuesday, April 21, at around 4:24 p.m., a Honda driver, 47, fatally struck a male pedestrian, 78, at 4050 N. Central Avenue in Portage Park.

• On Wednesday, April 22, a driver failed to yield the right of way and fatally struck a pedestrian at 1498 N. California Ave. in West Town.

• On Saturday, May 2, around 2:40 a.m., after an argument, a driver fatally struck a man, 65, standing on the sidewalk on the 5000 block of S. Western Ave. in Gage Park, and then fled the scene.

• On Tuesday, May 12, Enrique Nieto was changing a flat car tire in the street on the 6800 block of South Pulaski Road when an SUV driver fatally struck him and fled the scene.

• On Thursday, May 14, a hit-and-run sedan driver fatally struck a man, 36, near 87th Street and Ashland Avenue in Auburn Gresham.

• On Saturday, May 23, around 5:15 p.m., a driver, 35, fatally struck Illeana Crisanto, 62, near Belmont and Kilbourn avenues, on the border of Irving Park and Hermosa.

• On Sunday, July 26, at around 10:47 p.m., a speeding SUV driver, 39, struck and killed a male pedestrian, 63, on the 5100 block of South Western Avenue in Gage Park.

• On Wednesday, July 29, at around 11:41 a.m., a hit-and-run truck driver struck and killed Belesda Toledo, 47, on the 2500 block of South Hamlin Avenue in Little Village.

• On Saturday, August 8, around 9:22 p.m., a sedan driver fatally struck Sarah Milcarek, 25, on the 1400 block of West Irving Park Road in Lakeview.

2026 Chicago bicycle and e-scooter fatalities

• On Thursday, January 24, around 8:20 p.m., the 33-year-old male driver of a Toyota fatally struck Roman Havelka, 63, on a bicycle in the 8600 block of West Irving Park Road.

• On Saturday, March 21,  around 8:30 p.m., a hit-and-run driver fatally struck Violet Harris, 15, on an e-scooter in the 2800 block of East 77th Street in South Shore.

• On Sunday, April 5, around 1:20 a.m., a speeding, hit-and-run SUV driver fatally struck Damian Gomez, 18, on a bicycle at 63rd Street and Kedzie Avenue in Chicago Lawn.

• On Friday, April 24, around 4:15 p.m., a Jeep driver struck and killed e-scooter rider Astrid Carrillo Noguera, 17, near 3340 S. King Dr. in the Douglas community.

• On Friday, June 5, around 4:40 p.m., a car driver opened their door on CDOT Planner Riley O’Neil, 35, causing him to clip the door and be thrown in front of a truck and fatally struck.

• On Wednesday August 5 at about 3:37 PM a semi driver and Alex Blacio, 16, riding an e-scooter, collided at 4025 N. Western Ave. in North Center, and the teen later died from his injuries.

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