Not again. Cyclist Killed in Hit and Run Crash With Van

A bicyclist was killed in a hit-and-run crash late Wednesday in the West Garfield Park neighborhood, police said.

The 58-year-old man was riding a bicycle south on Pulaski at 10:19 p.m. when he was struck by a white van making a left turn onto Maypole, according to Chicago Police. The van drove away westbound on Maypole.

Here's a photo of the van that was involved in the hit and run of the cyclist:

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/police-bicyclist-killed-in-west-ga...

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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on August 18, 2016 at 3:32am

Article by Chicagoist:

A cyclist was fatally struck by a white van in a West Garfield Park hit-and-run Wednesday night, police say.

The cyclist, identified by the Medical Examiner's Office as 58-year-old Francisco Cruz, was riding south on Pulaski Avenue in the 4000 block of West Maypole Avenue when a white van turning onto Maypole hit him at around 10:20 p.m., a police spokesperson told Chicagoist. The cyclist, who lived in Lawndale, was taken to Stroger Hospital and pronounced dead.

The car that hit him fled the scene of the collision westbound, and police are searching for it. It may have the logo of a company somewhere on it and its front may have been damaged in the collision, according to the Tribune.

http://chicagoist.com/2016/08/18/another_chicago_cyclist_was_killed...

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on August 18, 2016 at 3:47am

Reverse look up on the phone number on this van is of Advanced Realty Network:

https://www.facebook.com/advancedrealty1/

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on August 18, 2016 at 4:49am

Perhaps it's the deadliest summer for cyclists or it is getting reported more frequently?

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on August 18, 2016 at 6:17am

Four out of four have been commercial vehicles involved in the deaths of cyclists in Chicago. This summer has been tragic for cyclists. 

Here's a follow up by Steven Vance at Chicago Streetsblog. 

Francisco Cruz, 58, was struck and killed while biking in West Garfield Park Wednesday night by a cargo van driver who fled the scene. This newest tragedy happened the day after art student Lisa Kuivinen while riding a bike in West Town Tuesday morning. Cruz’s death is the fourth bike fatality this year; all four cases involved a commercial driver.

Cruz was bicycling south on the 200 block of North Pulaski Road at 10:19 p.m. last night when the driver of a northbound white commercial cargo van turned left onto Maypole Avenue and fatally struck him, police said. The driver did not stop to render aid but instead contined west on Maypole.

Cruz, of the 1300 block of South Christiana in North Lawndale, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

http://chi.streetsblog.org/2016/08/18/francisco-cruz-58-fatally-str...

Permalink Reply by mike w. on August 18, 2016 at 6:35am

Well, it ought to be a simple matter to find this guy, seeing as how the vehicle is clearly identified.

Permalink Reply by Jeremy on August 18, 2016 at 6:59am

The Streetsblog article says Mr. Cruz was riding in the 200 block of North Pulaski, which, according to the city clerk's website, is in the 28th Ward served by Jason Ervin.

The good news:  according to this post on Active Trans' website, "Ald. Ervin supports better infrastructure for biking and walking in Chicago".  So, hopefully, this tragedy won't be overlooked by the alderman.

Back to the StreetsBlog article, there is a photo of this intersection from Google Street View.  Pulaski appears to be 6 lanes wide (4 driving and possibly 2 parking), with only a center dashed yellow line.  This configuration is conducive to speeding and not safe for anyone.  If the mayor's office can't even put paint on the ground to make these streets safer (let alone curb bump-outs), I have no faith he cares at all about Vision Zero.

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on August 18, 2016 at 9:42am

It is hard to comprehend why we haven't had an update when the hit and run occurred ~10 pm last night and they have the van with the business and phone number caught on film. I hope it is very clear who the driver was.

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on August 18, 2016 at 9:52am
https://m.facebook.com/gregwchicago

Shouldn't the police be interviewing the alleged vehicle's owner?
Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on August 18, 2016 at 10:26am

That could very well be happening. While we don't have any new news to go on, probably better to sit tight (even if it is frustrating) until there's a statement.

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on August 18, 2016 at 3:05pm
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/08/18/man-killed-in-hit-and-run-ch...

Chicago Police hunting for hit-and- run driver. It's strange that in this cbslocal(ch.2) 6pm news video story they ask viewers if they can help I.d. the van, but they have the back numbers blurred out. Thanks for the great help channel 2 !
Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on August 18, 2016 at 3:41pm

Really sad video segment about "Pops", father of seven. Yes, the entire van is blurred out - that's silly if they are asking for help identifying it.  Plus, everyone identified the business associated with the van first thing this morning...

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on August 18, 2016 at 4:09pm
Yes, from this personal background story, Francisco Cruz, 58, was an amazing person according to his friends. He was a 'good samaritan', a 'female protector guardian' , a 'volunteer security helper' and 'good guy'.

'Pops' Cruz, 58, and Lisa Kuivinen, 20.
Maybe it is true that, only the 'good' die young.

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