Worth Driver Accused In Fatal Hit-And-Run Ordered To Home Confinement

WORTH, IL — A Cook County judge denied a petition to detain a 27-year-old man accused of fatally striking a pedestrian in what Worth police have described as a road rage incident. Abdella Shaban was instead placed in 24-hour home confinement after he Thursday at a pretrial detention hearing on charges of reckless homicide, leaving the scene and traffic violations.

The pedestrian, Doug Richer, 46,who died in the car v. pedestrian crash, and Shaban had prior run-ins where the prosecutor said Shaban was known for driving recklessly in a loud vehicle through the neighborhood. In the moments leading up to Monday’s crash, the prosecutor said Richer flagged down a Worth police officer to complain that Shaban was again driving recklessly in the neighborhood.

The officer took Richer’s information and went back to the Worth police station to document it. Shortly after, Richer’s adult son was driving in his black Lexus on Natchez Street. The son stopped in front of Shaban’s home in the 11500 block of South Natchez Avenue, where the two exchanged words, the prosecutor said.

As the son continued driving northbound on Natchez toward his home, the prosecutor said he saw Shaban getting into his black BMW in his rearview mirror. The son stopped in the westbound lane of 115th Street, across from his house, which sits on the corner. Shaban is then said to have made a fast left onto 115th Street, ignoring a stop sign.

According to court documents, Shaban drove westbound in the eastbound lane of traffic so he could drive by the Lexus. Shaban threw a water bottle at the son’s car as he drove past, the prosecutor said, then quickly swerved his BMW into the westbound lane of traffic, where he continued driving.

Richer and his wife were walking their dogs when they saw the incident transpire near the corner of 115th and Natchez. Their son got out of his car to see what had been thrown at his car.

After handing off the dogs’ leashes off to his wife, Richer entered the eastbound lane of the roadway near 115th Street and began walking toward his son. Once Shaban reached the next interaction at 115th Street and Neenah Avenue, the prosecutor said he made a U-turn before driving eastbound in excess of the posted 25-mph speed limit.

Another motorist, who was driving eastbound in front of Shaban, stopped to allow Richer to cross the street, which she thought he was doing. Shaban, still driving at a high rate of speed, drove into the westbound lane toward the son who was standing by his car. The son threw the water bottle back at Shaban’s vehicle as the BMW quickly swerved from its head on course toward the Lexus, court documents said.

The prosecutor said as Shaban swerved into the eastbound lane, he hit Richer, who flew several feet in the air before landing on the pavement. Richer later died of his injuries.

Another witness saw what happened and followed Shaban to his home, where the prosecutor said the witness took a picture of Shaban standing by the BMW. Worth police said they were able to connect the license plate number to the 27-year-old resident. Officers also observed damage to the BMW’s windshield. Shaban was taken into custody, where police allege he admitted to hitting Richer with his car.

Shaban is due back in court April 26 in Bridgeview.