Chicago Girl, 5, Killed By Hit-And-Run Driver While Running After Ice Cream Truck, Police Seek Assistance
A five-year-old Chicago girl was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver Saturday while running after an ice cream truck that was visiting her neighborhood.
In the wake of the accident, Chicago police are asking the public for information that may help lead them to find the driver of a car that struck and killed the 5-year-old Chicago girl on the city’s southwest side.
According to CBS News, authorities have released a description of the car that struck the Chicago girl.
“The car that hit 5-year-old Maria Gonzalez was a 2-door Honda Civic with a sunroof and spoiler and a dark finish that was dull or had a primer coat. The car also may have a front-end bra, sport muffler and a broken lamp.”
The Chicago girl’s family told the news agency she was hit by the car Saturday afternoon on a residential street after she bought a treat from an ice cream vendor.
After the car struck the Chicago girl, the reportedly driver fled the scene and witnesses said the driver not only didn’t stop, he never even slowed down.
UPDATE: Maria Gonzalez, 5, was running toward ice cream truck when killed in hit-and-run http://t.co/COw7jnIX9C pic.twitter.com/7Rohm9hfXe
— DNAinfo.com Chicago (@DNAinfoCHI) May 24, 2015
The Chicago girl’s father said she died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital.
CBS Chicago reported that police have released a surveillance photo of the vehicle.
The little Chicago girl apparently watched a neighbor girl go for ice cream when the truck entered the neighborhood and Maria somehow managed to use a broom to remove a chain lock on the family’s door.
“I see her walk across the street to the ice cream truck,” father Juan Gonzalez said, adding that he tried to run after his daughter, but a gangway lock and chain kept him from catching her.
Instead, he witnessed the speeding sedan srike his daughter and speed away.
A neighbor described the horrible event.
“I heard a loud bang, I come out and a gentleman was hysterically yelling. It was his daughter that got hit.”
According to CBS Chicago, “the impact was so severe, it threw Maria’s body 50 feet, wedged under a car at the curb.”
5-year-old girl killed in a hit-and-run in Chicago Lawn yesterday — police searching for car http://t.co/COw7jnrlL2 pic.twitter.com/a7KLFJOGUz
— DNAinfo.com Chicago (@DNAinfoCHI) May 24, 2015
Police have issued an alert, along with a description of the car. But, even if they do find the perpetrator of the terrible act, it won’t bring the Chicago girl’s father much peace.
“The only thing I want is my child back,” the Chicago girl’s father said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the police Major Accidents Investigations Unit at (312) 745-4521.
[Photo via CBS Chicago]
