Matteson Driver In Fatal Police Chase Charged With Murder

CHICAGO, IL — A Matteson man was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the hit-and-run death of a 55-year-old woman on the city's South Side last week, according to Chicago police. Curtis Pugh, 22 was caught three blocks away from the crash after police were pursuing him near 79th Street and Lafayette Avenue just before 6 p.m. Thursday, May 10.

Along with the murder count, Pugh faces felony charges of leaving the scene of an accident, aggravated fleeing with bodily injury and the manufacture and delivery of cocaine, as well as other misdemeanors and citations. He was ordered held without bail during a Sunday court hearing, according to a Chicago Tribune report.

Police said Thursday night that the driver of a dark-colored sedan struck two people walking in the 7900 block of South Lafayette during a pursuit. A 55-year-old woman — who was later identified as Julia Callaway of the city's Chatham neighborhood — was pronounced dead after she was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Campus and a 30-year-old man who was also hit was treated and released at the scene.

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Prosecutors said in court that Pugh told police he had fled pursuit before but had never been caught up until now, ABC-7 reports.

By TIM MORAN | Patch Editor

Curtis Pugh (Photo via Chicago Police Department)