12-year-old hit, injured by car in Elgin

A 12-year-old girl is being treated for injuries after being hit by a car in Elgin Monday night, police said Tuesday.

Diana Lopez, of Elgin, was struck by a BMW that had the right of way at about 7 p.m. while running across Route 31 at Kimball Street, according to police.

Lt. Glenn Theriault said investigators do not know why Lopez crossed the six-lane street when she did but two teenagers she was with stayed safely on the corner.

A 76-year-old Sleepy Hollow man was driving the 2007 BMW X3 at the time of the crash. He was uninjured, police said. No charges are expected, though police continue to investigate.

Lopez was first taken to Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin with serious injuries and later transferred to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where she is expected to recover, Theriault said.

The accident is one of several serious pedestrian accidents in the city during the past year — a cause of concern for the Elgin Police Department.

“A common link is that people aren't adhering to the age-old rule of looking both ways before crossing the street,” Theriault said.

Police are reminding pedestrians to be aware of their surroundings and pay attention to traffic signals when attempting road crossings.

Kimball and State streets were closed for more than two hours following Monday's accident. Anyone with details is encouraged to call (847) 289-2700 as police continue their investigation.