Manhunt For Driver Who Hit Family Head-On: Cops

RIVERSIDE, IL — A family coming back from the light display at Brookfield Zoo was injured in a head-on crash on Saturday, and the driver of the other vehicle fled on foot from the scene. Riverside Police received multiple 911 calls at 8:24 p.m. Dec. 9, reporting a head-on crash in the eastbound lanes of 31st Street just west of First Avenue.

Police said when the first officer arrived, there was one vehicle at the corner of 31st and First, and the second vehicle was at 31st and Golfview. Debris was spread all over the roadway and there were multiple injuries.

According to police, two passengers in one of the vehicles were injured and being treated by paramedics. When officers went to check on the other vehicle, they found that the driver had fled on foot. Police said the vehicle's airbags had deployed, there was blood on the airbag and steering wheel and the driver's shoes were left stuck under the gas pedal.

Riverside Police requested assistance from North Riverside and Brookfield Police to assist at the scene and search for the offender. Police said they were able to obtain video from the Brookfield Zoo that showed the offender running westbound on 31st from Golfview into Brookfield after the accident. The offender was described as a white male wearing a white puffy coat.

A 63-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman, both of Cicero, were transported to Loyola Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. According to police, a perimeter was set up and they searched the area for the offending driver but were unable to locate him after an hour's search.

Police said the case has been complicated by several factors. The license places on the car are not registered to the vehicle and the VIN registers to a separate person. Identification was left in the suspect’s vehicle on the driver's seat that matched neither the registered owner nor the vehicle identification number.

Police said they have searched an address in Brookfield on the 4600 block of Grove and in Lyons on the 4400 block of Amelia. Riverside Police were also assisted by the Joliet Police Department in searching an address in Joliet on the 200 block of Elgin. An address in Homewood will be searched as well. All of these addresses are possible last known addresses for the registered owner and/or offender.

Both vehicles involved in the accident experienced heavy damage and had to be towed from the scene.

Riverside Police are asking for the public's help. If you were in the area and observed the accident, or know who the offender is, contact the Riverside Police Department at 708-447-2127 or you can directly contact Detective James Lazansky at jlazansky@riverside.il.us.

Watch Now: Manhunt For Driver Who Hit Family Head-On

Photos provided by Riverside Police Department.