Girl injured in hit-and-run; driver still missing

A 7-year-old girl was injured and police were left searching for suspects after a hit-and-run Saturday afternoon in McHenry.

Lola Bella Cassidy was out walking her dog with her older sister about 12:30 p.m. Saturday on the 4100 block of West Veterans Parkway, but she doesn't remember much of what happened next.

A driver in a small green sedan slammed into the 7-year-old girl, sending her toppling over the car and skidding across the road. As her sister looked on in a state of shock, the driver sped away without stopping as Lola lay unconscious.

Steve Cassidy arrived just as emergency medical personnel were strapping his daughter to a backboard and placing a collar around her neck.

“She had a real big knot on the top of her head,” Cassidy said. “She was just beat up from head to toe. Road rash, bruises and scrapes, but thank God it was nothing worse.”

Lola was taken to Centegra McHenry Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries and released Saturday night with instructions to her parents to watch for any signs of a worsening concussion. Cassidy said he'll also be waiting for any news about the person who put his daughter in the hospital.

“The speed limit is 25 mph on the road, but people have a tendency to just fly down it,” Cassidy said. “But if you hit someone, why would you not pull over? Why would you not call 911? You made a mistake. Accidents happen. And she's Ok, thank God. But we just want this person to be found.”

McHenry Police are trying to do just that, but they are asking for help. Anyone with information should contact the McHenry Police Department at (815) 363-2200. Anonymous tips can be left at (815) 363-2124. There is no caller ID attached to the anonymous tip line.

Cassidy said police are also attempting to secure video footage from a camera at a business near the where the incident occurred to help identify the vehicle.