Oak Forest Woman Accused In Hit-And-Run That Injured Pedestrian

CRESTWOOD, IL -- An Oak Forest woman was arrested at her home after she allegedly hit a pedestrian crossing Cicero Avenue in Crestwood and left the scene of an accident. Briana L. Thompson-Vargas, 23, appeared before Cook County Judge Michael Cain on a felony charge of failure to stop after an accident. She is also charged with traffic violations.

The prosecutor said that Thompson-Vargas was traveling northbound on Cicero Avenue around 2:23 a.m. June 25 when she hit a woman crossing the road at 136th Street and Cicero Avenue. Witnesses said the pedestrian was propelled 20 feet into the air. Thompson-Vargas stopped for a moment and then drove away. A witness waiting to turn into Dunkin’ Donuts followed Thompson-Vargas’s blue Hyundai and got the car’s license plate number, according to the charges.

The pedestrian was unresponsive when Crestwood Fire Department paramedics arrived at the scene. The injured pedestrian was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she was treated for a broken arm and broken leg.

Thompson-Vargas was arrested the next day at her home in the 14800 block of Landing Lane in Oak Forest. Police said that Thompson-Vargas told officers she thought she had hit a deer. The prosecutor said the Oak Forest woman has no prior criminal background.

The assistant public defender told the judge that Thompson-Vargas is due to graduate from an out-of-state college in spring 2019.

The judge set bail at $10,000. Thompson-Vargas is due back in court July 24 in Bridgeview.