Pedestrian Fatalities

Late January is generally when Streetsblog Chicago is able to reach a final count of people fatally struck on foot or bike the previous year on our city's surface streets. Sadly, I recently learned of a few more 2025 cases.

Streetsblog Chicago's Fatality Tracker series seeks to document all deadly pedestrian and bicycle crashes on surface streets within the city of Chicago. Our goal is to draw attention to the need for policy and infrastructure changes to help prevent these kind of tragedies.

Tragically, on Friday morning, after a driver dropped off a dog to Wanda Mejia, 35, in the River North neighborhood, the motorist accelerated and struck her as Mejia walked away, causing fatal injuries.

Correction 12/19/25, 3:45 PM: Based on a Google Streetview image I was referred to by one of Walter Mahoney's former coworkers, I reported that Mahoney was struck in a marked intersection with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons. However, I have since been informed that the image was outdated, and the crosswalk and Beacons were removed in 2022. This article has been update accordingly. I apologize for the error.

Tragically, a hit-and-run van driver fatally struck a man last Monday afternoon at a shopping plaza in the Morgan Park community.

Tragically, it appears a male pedestrian was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver last Saturday night in Roseland.

Sadly, on Friday afternoon, the driver of a sedan fatally struck Maximiliano Lemus Jr., 72, in Little Village and fled the scene.

Tragically, a speeding hit-and-run sedan driver fatally struck a woman on foot early Sunday morning in West Englewood.

Tragically, a 72-year-old minivan driver fatally struck Juslene Akeza, 4, as she was crossing the street last Wednesday during the evening rush in the West Ridge neighborhood. The motorist was cited for negligent driving.