Oak Lawn Village Board Will Meet To Discuss Deetjen's Fate

OAK LAWN, IL — The Oak Lawn Village Board will hold a special meeting on Monday morning to determine the fate of village manager Larry Deetjen, who is accused of leaving the scene of an accident after hitting and critically injuring a pedestrian with his car. The special meeting is set to begin at 11 a.m. at village hall.

Deetjen's village-owned Crown Victoria was identified by witnesses after he struck a 48-year-old Worth man around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Chicago Ridge police said. Police said Deetjen did not stop after hitting the man near the intersection of Harlem and 101st Street. According to police, the village manager told authorities that he “heard a thump” and did not know that he struck a person. The injured pedestrian was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center where he is said to be in critical condition.

>>> Oak Lawn Village Manager Under Investigation In Hit-And-Run

The special meeting agenda, posted Friday afternoon on the village website, consisted of the usual language pertaining to a closed session where possible disciplinary action or termination of any public body employee will be discussed. Village board members are expected to emerge from their closed session for more “discussion and possible action regarding the village manager position” in open meeting.

Chicago Ridge police said that Deetjen, as well as the Village of Oak Lawn, has been cooperating in the investigation. Deetjen has not yet been charged in the accident. A village official, who did not wish to be named, told Patch that Deetjen feels “horrible” about the accident.