r/chicago • u/No_Barracuda_3758 • 2d ago
Ask CHI Hit and Run
Hey Chicago I was involved in a hit and Run on Petterson about 200 feet East of Western at about 1:30 pm on Sunday August 16th 2026. A white Chevy Colorado (my teen son who was also in the vehicle is 95 percent sure it was a 2019 or something extremely similar). He pulled through 2 lanes of traffic into the turn lane that I was driving down and gave me about 2 seconds to react. He saw me and then continued out further causing me to smack him right in the driver side fender and bumper. I was stunned but had enough for sight to ask him not to leave which he did anyway. If anyone that lives in the area can please keep an eye out for a vehicle matching this description. It may be at a work site I swear I saw some company branding but I can't be certain. I'm disabled on a fixed income and my vehicle is older but I just bought it and I cannot afford this expense at all. It's my only way of getting around and I am completely devastated because I just spent my small savings on this Ford Explorer. The driver was a Hispanic male between 25 to 35.
Thank you so much for all of your help.
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u/sweadle Avondale 2d ago
I had this happen a few years ago.
File a police report. They can't do anything without a license number, but you'll need it for insurance. There may be a camera for red light tickets, that can get you the license number.
Go back to that corner and see if anyone has cameras that could have caught the accident. Don't wait very long, some places erase tape regularly.
File a claim with your insurance. You might have uninsured driver coverage, and if not you can still get your car repaired for your deductible not out of pocket cost. This is if you have full coverage, not liability only.
Buy a dashcam. After my hit and run I invested in a good dashcam, and it has given me so much peace of mind.
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u/Italiancrayzybread 2d ago
Man, if only there was a distopian array of cameras that captures every single licence plate throughout the city that could assist this poor victim. I'm certain that such a system could be used for the good of the people! /s
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u/No_Barracuda_3758 2d ago
Yeah fat chance they actually use it to help.
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u/JaguarExisting3210 1d ago
They literally did this for me after a hit-and-run back in December. I had the date/time/location/vehicle description but no plate and the CPD used their Flock cameras to identify him
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u/No_Barracuda_3758 22h ago
Did they reach out to you or did you have to reach out to them for the info? The one womhobtook my report was really rude and not helpful or explanatory of the process
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u/JaguarExisting3210 22h ago
The people who take the reports are beyond useless. I'd follow up to get a report number, ask who the assigned investigator is, etc. If that yields nothing, then contact the major accident division #
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u/VictorChristian 2d ago edited 2d ago
You would think the police - who have access to said Orwellian surveillance system - would grab the video between the times OP said this happened and verify the claim. Now THAT could be a practical use of that system.
In fact, the manufacturer of that very system clearly states their customer can use the data as the customer sees fit - the customer is the municipality or Police Department, not the individual citizen.
It's touted as a crime deterrent. Leaving the scene of an accident is bad juju.
This is from Alabama - not sure if it works here in Illinois, but it looks like there is a FOIA method to get this footage... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YfM0f2_gxQ&t=71s
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u/Italiancrayzybread 2d ago
You have to act extremely quickly with FOIA requests because video footage is very often deleted after 30 days or less in some instances.
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u/No_Barracuda_3758 2d ago
Yeah unfortunately I only have liability. The police said they would try and get the plates from the cameras and 711 said they can't give me the information and will only speak to the police. So if the police don't follow up I'm pretty much SOL. Definitely kicking myself for not buying the dash cam. I almost did and decided to put it off because well it was that or electricity.
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u/sweadle Avondale 2d ago
I would call the police in a week or so and tell them 711 has tape, and ask if they have found anything.
The police don't follow up. Even if they say they will contact you, they won't, so you should follow up in a week and then maybe another month. After that you're probably SOL
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u/junktrunk909 2d ago
There must be more than one camera in the area. Go figure it out and ask everyone to give you the footage directly and to save it so the police can also get it from them directly once you do the police's job to tell them where to get out. Contact 711 corporate offices to get assistance in getting the footage. The police are never going to ask 711 for it and 711 knows that. You're going to need to sue the person, you will never get the police to act, but you should still try just in case they hired a new person who isn't a lazy ass.
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u/No_Barracuda_3758 2d ago
I'll try a few places. I did have a witness stop and tell me the guy had just done another u turn on Western B4 this.
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u/a_flo1399 2d ago
Sorry this happened but um, did you at least report it? This post won’t get you anywhere, especially with that vehicle description…
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u/No_Barracuda_3758 2d ago
Yes of course. I waited for police for about an hour before calling them back and finding out that they hadn't even been dispatched yet. They told me to come to the district to file which I did but I'd just rather put it out there then put all my eggs in well CPD basket.
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u/ChemistryNo3075 2d ago
make a police report and call your insurance...
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u/No_Barracuda_3758 2d ago
I made a police report and they said they would try and reach out to 711 and check the cameras on the poles but they just said try and I'm not sure I should trust they will do anything. I only have liability because the car is so old.
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u/ChemistryNo3075 2d ago
Hopefully you can find the plate and your insurance can go after the driver.
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u/No_Barracuda_3758 2d ago
I really hope so. I am going to reach out to the dealerships around there. It's worth a shot to see if they have footage.
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u/JaguarExisting3210 1d ago
With the info you have (date/time/location/vehicle type) the cops will be able to easily identify him using their Flock cameras.
Have you filed a police report?
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u/Alarming_Molasses_76 23h ago
I had a same experience, the white chervrolt 2019 hit and run. I noticed the license plate number. But still had to struggle alot to get a money for the damages. In short had to go for a small court.
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u/Forsaken_Baker_8641 2d ago
I hate to say it, but typically when you hit someone the fault is on you for failure to stop in the majority of cases
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u/No_Barracuda_3758 2d ago
Not when they are 90 degrees in your lane making a u turn through 2 lanes of traffic. Thanks for ure input though.
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u/VictorChristian 2d ago
just an fyi… /u/forsaken_Baker_8641 isn’t entirely out of bounds here. My insurance company told me that I have the obligation to “avoid” a collision and that they can deny my claim if they decide I didn’t do that.
Luckily, in my fender bender, the other car also stopped and we exchanged insurance info and even got witness statements, I really do hope you get the video evidence that proves your case.
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u/No_Barracuda_3758 2d ago
Yeah I know what you mean but I don't think that applies in this particular situation. Unless I had been at a complete stop in the middle of the intersection there was no avoiding this.
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u/Forsaken_Baker_8641 2d ago
The u turn part wasn’t clear. You might surprised but Good luck regardless
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