Orland Park Woman's Hit-And-Run Leads To Arrest

Criminal charges were filed Thursday against 19-year-old Eduardo Avila Jr. of Joliet in connection with last weekend's hit-and-run crash that killed pedestrian Tricia Hoyt, 35, in Bolingbrook. On Thursday afternoon, the Bolingbrook Police Department announced that a warrant for Avila's arrest has been issued. Police said they are working with Avila's criminal defense attorney to facilitate his surrender to Will County authorities.

According to Bolingbrook police, investigators had obtained a search warrant to seize Avila's vehicle, and it was impounded by police. "The vehicle is a 2002 Honda Accord which was driven by Avila at the time of the incident," Bolingbrook police said in a statement.

Additionally, investigators have interviewed Avila. A determination was subsequently made to charge the 19-year-old Avila with failure to stop after having an accident involving personal injury or death. He also faces a second criminal charge of failure to report an accident involving fatal injury or death. Hoyt, the victim, was in Bolingbrook attending a party. She lived in Orland Park and was struck by a speeding vehicle as she walked along the Frontage Road after stepping out of the party on Saturday night.

Police had surmised that she was hit between 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 a.m. Sunday.

Bolingbrook police told Patch that Avila was not at the party; he was driving through the area.

A warrant for Avila's arrest contains a $500,000 bond, meaning Avila must come up with 10 percent cash in order to get out of jail while his criminal charges are pending at the Will County Courthouse.

Image of Tricia Hoyt supplied to Patch