Fatal Orland Hit-And-Run Driver In Custody: Police

ORLAND PARK, IL — Orland Park police confirm the driver from the fatal hit-and-run that happened near the Square Celt earlier this week is in custody. Charges will be announced Saturday morning. Police had scheduled a press conference earlier Friday, then postponed it.

Around 8 p.m. Dec. 4, police said they received multiple 911 calls reporting an accident with injuries on a service road just north of Square Celt Ale House & Grill at the Orland Square Mall. When officers arrived, they said they found several Good Samaritans attempting to help the two seriously injured women, later identified as teachers from St. Michael School.

The teachers had been attending a parish Christmas party at Square Celt and were walking back to their cars when they were stuck by a “light vehicle” making a left turn toward La Grange Road. The driver continued driving without stopping to help the injured teachers, police said.

1 Teacher Dead, Another Injured In Orland Park Hit-And-Run

Both women were taken to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, where 61-year-old Rone (Margaret) Leja, a technology teacher at St. Michael’s, died. Her colleague, third-grade teacher Elizabeth Kosteck, also sustained injuries.

Orland Park Police Chief Tim McCarthy said police were working on “significant leads" but would not elaborate. The police chief also alleged there was no way the driver could not know he or she hit the women, based on accident reconstruction.

Word around the Bridgeview Courthouse on Friday was that Orland Park police had a suspect in custody and charges were under felony review. Police said no further statements would be made until Saturday morning’s press conference.