Aurora boy seriously injured by hit-and-run driver

Police are searching for the driver involved in a hit-and-run accident that seriously injured a 13-year-old Aurora boy Wednesday evening.

Joshua Romero, of the 400 block of Grant Place, was on a bicycle southbound on Talma Street crossing over Fifth Avenue around 5 p.m. when he was hit by a newer model, dark colored Nissan Pathfinder, said Aurora Police spokesman Dan Ferrelli.

Witnesses said the vehicle, which also had a luggage rack on its top, slowed for a second, but continued east on 5th Street to northbound Jackson Street.

Based on witness accounts, the driver may have been a Hispanic woman in her early 30s with long black hair, Ferrelli said.

The boy was taken to Rush-Copley Medical Center and later airlifted to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood with serious, nonlife threatening injuries.

Anyone with information is asked to call Aurora police traffic investigators at (630) 256-5330. They can also call Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000.

Callers can remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to any arrests by calling the Crime Stopper tips line.