Driver Sought After Striking And Injuring Teen, Killing Dog: Cops

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — An Evergreen Park family is asking the driver of a Mercedes-Benz SUV they say was involved in a crash on Feb. 3 that injured their daughter and killed their dog to please come forward. They’re not looking to cause the driver any additional grief because he did stop, but the texts he sent to a neighbor with his contact and insurance information were never received.

Last Friday afternoon, Ellen and Bryan Chesley told Patch that their 15-year-old daughter had taken their yellow lab, Bruno, for a walk. Their daughter, who requested that her name not be used, was waiting to cross the street on the southeast corner of 99th and St. Louis. When cars stopped coming, the teen started crossing the intersection, “when a car came out of nowhere,” Ellen Chesley said.

“She saw it coming toward her and started yelling and waving her hands,” Ellen said. “She was in the middle of the street.”

According to the Chesleys, the vehicle struck Bruno. Their daughter also sprained her MCL, either from being hit or taking evasive action.

“The man did stop, as well as a few other vehicles, so technically it was not a hit-and-run,” Ellen Chesley said. “Our dog staggered to the grass and fell. Our daughter held him.”

A woman who had witnessed the accident immediately stopped her car and went to help the teen. Their daughter gave the woman her address. The woman ran down St. Louis Avenue and got Bryan.

“When I ran down there, four or five other people had also stopped,” Bryan Chesley said. “They were helping to keep our daughter calm.”

There was no indication then that their daughter had been injured in the accident. “She was so focused on her dog, she kept saying she was okay,” Ellen said.

Bryan estimates he was at the scene about ten minutes. He recalls the driver saying he had called 911. In the confusion, Bryan ran out of the house without his phone, and couldn’t get the man’s contact and insurance information.

“My daughter was having such a hard time and panicking. I decided to run back home and get the car,” Bryan said. “Bruno is a big dog. The [Benz] driver even helped me load the dog into the car. We went to LePar Animal Hospital.”

A neighbor offered to get the man’s information for Bryan. The man in the Benz took photos of his driver’s license and insurance card, and texted them to the neighbor, but the texts never came through.

The initial 911 call to Evergreen Park police had been transferred from Chicago police, possibly causing a delayed response. By the time officers arrived at 99th and St. Louis, everyone was gone, EPPD told Patch in an email. Officers drove around the neighborhood but “observed no vehicle or persons involved in the crash.”

“Officers learned that after the crash, the vehicle involved did stop and render aid and [the driver] offered his contact information, but there may have been an error in copying the information,” police said.

Shortly after, dispatch advised officers that the Chesleys were at LePar with Bruno. By then, the Chesley's daughter was in a lot of pain. There was a big welt on her knee, and she was given an ice pack at the animal hospital. Sadly, Bruno died.

“Our daughter and Bruno were best friends,” her mother said.

In addition to suffering the loss of Bruno, their daughter has a sprained MCL. She’s on crutches, missing the final games of her sports season at high school. Since then, Ellen and Bryan Chesley have been reaching out to the neighborhood Facebook groups – Evergreen Park Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Evergreen Park Neighbor News & Info, and Evergreen Park Neighborhood Watch — seeking information.

“People have reached out on Facebook saying they were there,” Ellen Chesley said.

A blurred Ring camera image is being circulated on social media of what police described as a newer model Mercedes-Benz SUV, possibly “olive green” in color. Witnesses describe the vehicle as being more brownish.

Given the time of the accident, around 3:40 p.m., Bryan Chesley wonders if the man in the Mercedes-Benz was picking his children up from one of the nearby schools.

“It seems like everyone who knows the area, knows how congested 99th and Central Park get when schools let out,” he said. “People will take 98th around the curb to get down to 99th Street … the driver had turned right on the 9800 block of St. Louis, to get to 99th, so we think it was someone familiar with the area.”

The Chesleys have medical and vet bills they want to turn over the Mercedes-Benz driver’s insurance. Evergreen Park police would also like to speak to the man.

“We haven’t heard from you,” Ellen Chesley said, speaking out to the driver. “We know you tried to give us your information, but we didn’t get it. Will you please come forward.”

Police described the driver of the Mercedes-Benz as an African American man, approximately 6 feet tall, and weighing 250 pounds. He was wearing a skull cap, blue coat and dark-colored pants.

This crash is still being investigated by police. Anyone with information, or the driver himself, is asked to contact the Evergreen Park Police Department at 708-422-2144.

“This is a hard one to move on from,” Brian Chesley added. “It’s bad enough that our daughter is injured and losing our dog. This is just hanging over our heads. We just want him to be accountable to our family.”