Des Plaines police ask freight companies to help ID hit-and-run driver
Des Plaines police are seeking the help of area freight companies to identify the driver of a semi tractor truck involved in Friday's hit-and-run accident that killed 17-year-old Choice Taylor.
Witnesses told police the vehicle was a dull red or maroon semi without an attached trailer, police said Sunday.
Investigators and Illinois Commerce Commission police are asking area trucking firms to check their GPS systems to determine if any of their drivers were in the area at the time of the crash.
“What we are looking for is if anybody has seen that truck in the general vicinity of Wolf and Algonquin (roads) between 6 and 6:30 p.m. Friday,” Des Plaines Police Deputy Chief Richard Rozkuszka said. “All we can do is keep working every angle we can. We've gotten some leads. We're following up on them. So far no remorseful driver saying ‘I hit the kid.'”
Police found the body of Taylor, a Maine West High School senior, lying in the westbound lane of the 900 block of East Algonquin Road, nearly 50 feet east of the stop sign at Third Avenue, about 6:15 p.m. Friday.
Several witnesses called 9-1-1 and a passing motorist blocked off the roadway with his truck, standing guard over Taylor's body, until police arrived, police said.
Witnesses who were waiting behind the truck in traffic told police Taylor approached the back of the stopped truck, somehow ended up under the vehicle and was run over when it pulled forward, police said.
According to witness accounts, the truck driver continued about half a block, got out of his vehicle to check for damage and then drove off. Police said there was no debris left at the scene by the vehicle.
Des Plaines Police Chief Jim Prandini said there's a good chance the driver didn't realize he had struck a person. Police can't say whether criminal charges will be pursued against the driver until the investigation is complete.
“He has to have some kind of knowledge that he ran over something,” Rozkuszka said.
Police and Taylor's family are urging the driver of the vehicle to turn himself in. Investigators planned to hand out fliers near the crash scene Monday evening seeking information about the incident.
Friends and classmates also gathered Monday for a memorial to Taylor.
“(Choice) was a sweet guy always opening the door for people and complimenting them,” said Michelle Rzepecki of Des Plaines. “Everyone knew him, he was just so nice.”
The police department and the Joint Crisis Response and Recovery Team of Des Plaines/Park Ridge will conduct a community grief counseling open house from 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Des Plaines Public Library, 1501 Ellinwood St., in meeting room A.
The event will give community members a place to talk about the impact the tragedy is having on them individually as well as on the entire community, officials said.
Adult and children's counselors will be available. An art station has been set up for people who wish to write condolences to Taylor's family.
Anyone with information about the accident should call investigators at (847) 391-5400 or text an anonymous tip to CRIMES, or 274637, by starting the message with “ICARE.”
Services for Taylor are set for later this week. A wake is scheduled from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday at Good News Christian Center, 815 Lee St. in Des Plaines. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, and burial will be at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Hillside.