Elgin police seek driver in hit-and-run

Danielle Dussard, 16, was on her way to Elgin High School like any other day Tuesday, when she stopped to get a paper near the Chicago Street bus station in downtown Elgin.

According to Danielle’s father, Robert Davis, she turned to go back across the street and catch a bus when she got hit by a car that left almost immediately.

“Whoever was driving the car stopped and hesitated,” Davis said. “And then they took off.”

Elgin Police Department spokeswoman Sue Olafson said detectives are looking for information in the hit-and-run accident that sent Danielle to Sherman Hospital with a host of non-life-threatening injuries. Witnesses are encouraged to call the police nonemergency line at (847) 289-2700.

Olafson said the accident happened at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of West Chicago Street.

“We do need witnesses to come forward,” Olafson said. “The information that we have is conflicting at this point.”

Davis said his daughter got out of the hospital Thursday with crutches she’ll need to help her walk for the next few weeks. She had a fractured leg, a swollen eye, bruises on her elbows and knuckles as well as staples in the back of her head from a larger cut.

Davis said his family is awaiting progress in the police department’s investigation, upset about the driver’s decision to leave the scene.

“Somebody shouldn’t hit anybody and then just leave the scene,” Davis said.