Pedestrian Killed In Hit-And-Run On UIC Campus; Driver Arrested After Running Onto Dan Ryan
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A driver was in custody following a fatal hit-and-run crash Thursday morning on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago on the city's Near West Side.
As CBS 2's Jeremy Ross reported Thursday afternoon, police said the driver tried to make his getaway on the Dan Ryan Expressway – on foot. The foot chase was caught on police radio.
Police said a 32-year-old man was driving north on the 1100 block of South Morgan Street near Roosevelt Road around 10:25 a.m., when he hit two pedestrians, a 26-year-old man and a 27-year-old man.
The 26-year-old man was taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County, where he was pronounced dead. The 27-year-old man was in good condition at Stroger Hospital, with an injured chest and shoulder.
The two victims were simply crossing the street when they were hit by a car – which was supposed to stop, but did not.
A tragic and adrenaline-filled chain of events followed.
"It's like a movie scene right now," said witness Matt Moy. "It's just surreal that someone died here."
Afterward, there was a crash involving the car that hit the men and at least one more, with the hit-and-run car crashing into a tree and finally coming to rest. The force of the crash sent car parts across the road.
"He's on foot running," a police officer said over dispatch radio as it happened. "This guy is on foot running."
The violent crashes were a chilling scene for people like Moy.
"The light post and everything all over the place, and just like the entire trail of just debris and stuff," Moy said. "It's almost like a warzone movie before a little bit."
As to the question of who would do such a thing and run away, Moy said: "I don't know, I can't imagine, like someone who's in panic – that's for sure."
The driver ran onto the Dan Ryan and managed to get half a mile away from the fatal crash scene before police closed in.
Drivers at the Chicago Greyhound Bus Station at 630 W. Harrison St. saw a swarm of police officers take a man into custody.
"It's heartbreaking," Moy said. "I really feel bad for the person who died and everyone in their family."
Late Thursday, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office identified the man who was killed as Tushar Sharma.
Police said the 32-year-old suspect was in custody late Thursday and charges were pending.
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