Family of Man Killed in Hit and Run Pleads for Driver to Come Forward

The cousin of a New Lenox man who died after a hit-and-run Sept. 14 in Lockport has something to say to the driver.

“Turn yourself in,” Mia van Eijmeren told the Chicago Tribune. “Own it. Give us some closure and some peace. I don’t know how he sleeps at night.”

Robert Haag, 35, of New Lenox, lost control of his motorcycle as he tried to avoid a driver that had cut him off, police said. The father of two struck a light-colored, four-door sedan that was driven by a middle-aged man with dark hair. Identifying the man behind the wheel of that car is “the No. 1 thing” for Lockport police.

”Our detectives are still trying to drum up leads,” Lockport Police Chief Terry Lemming told the Tribune.

Haag was taken to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, where he died a day later. His organs were donated to a 12-year-old girl who received his liver, a 46-year-old man who received his heart and kidney, and a 58-year-old man who received his kidney and pancreas, van Eijmeren said in a GoFundMe started for his children Caelen, age 7, and Alan, age 3.

The online effort has raised $8,600 in four days.

“He will not be there to tuck them in at night or hold them when they are scared or sad and this thought leaves me in tears,” van Eijmeren wrote on the GoFundMe. “I am at a loss, the only thing I can think of is to try and make sure they have everything else they need while they carry on through their journey, one less worry for these two precious souls is one more comfort for them, and the only way I can think to honor Bob right now is to help take care of his beautiful babies.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Fry at the Lockport police department, (815) 838-2131.