Chicago paramedic killed in Schaumburg
A pedestrian killed early Thursday morning in Schaumburg has been identified as 43-year-old Chicago paramedic Randy Orzada.
Orzada was killed after being hit by a car while walking down Algonquin Road near Old Plum Grove Road in Schaumburg about 3:30 a.m.
Schaumburg paramedics took Orzada, a Chicago resident, to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, where he died shortly before 5 a.m.
According to Schaumburg police, preliminary indications are that Orzada's vehicle had a flat tire and was parked in the curb lane of westbound Algonquin.
Police said Orzada was standing or walking on Algonquin Road when he was struck by an eastbound 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by a 42-year-old Crystal Lake resident.
The Cavalier driver was not injured and remained on the scene, police said. Schaumburg police say they continue to investigate the crash and had not charged the driver as of late Thursday.
Orzada was a Chicago Fire Department paramedic since 1997, most recently assigned to Ambulance 48 at Engine 106 quarters at 3401 N. Elston Ave., the fire department said.
The department expressed deep sadness for the loss of the 10-year veteran.
In the early stages of the investigation, Schaumburg police closed Algonquin to all traffic between Meacham and Old Plum Grove roads. The roadway reopened about 7 a.m.
Anybody who witnessed the crash is asked to call the Schaumburg Police Department Traffic Crash Reconstruction Team at (847) 882-3534.