3 Pedestrians Struck By Cars Since Halloween, 1 Fatally: Police

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — Three pedestrians have been struck by vehicles in separate incidents since Halloween, one resulting in the death of a pedestrian, Palos Heights police said.

An 80-year-old man was struck and killed Saturday while crossing Harlem Avenue near 123rd Street. Around 8:22 p.m., police were summoned to a vehicle vs. pedestrian injury, When police and the Palos Heights Fire Protection District arrived, they found a man, later identified as Edward Durcia, 80, lying on the ground.

Paramedics provided aid on the scene and transported Durcia to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased. A witness told officers that the man did not appear to look as he stepped out into the southbound lanes of Harlem when he was struck by a Honda Pilot, police said.

The driver of the Honda and witness both stopped and stayed on the scene to help the man and speak with officers. Witness statements, video and digital evidence indicated that the vehicle was traveling at or near the posted 35 mph speed limit.

The driver was not ticketed and passed all sobriety tests. Chief Bill Czajkowski, of the Palos Heights Police Department, told Patch that the driver was only going 5 mph over the 35 mph speed limit.

“The gentleman was crossing the street in the middle of the roadway and did not use the controlled crosswalk,” the police chief said.

On Nov. 2, a visitor from the UK was crossing the 11800 block of Southwest Highway in the middle of the roadway to get to Dunkin Donuts across the street. Czajkowski said the pedestrian was at fault and no tickets were issued.

“There is no median there and she was standing on the yellow lines,” Czajkowski said. “The driver pulled out of Dunkin’ and hit her. He didn’t see her and didn’t expect to see a pedestrian standing there.”

A trick-or-treater was hit by a vehicle around 4:40 p.m. on Halloween, at Potawatomi and Shawnee. He suffered minor injuries.

“He was wearing a football helmet which impeded his vision,” Czajkowski said.

No tickets were issued.