Driver Accused Of Fleeing Fatal Hit-And-Run Crash On West Side

CHICAGO, IL — A 20-year-old driver was charged in connection with a hit-and-run crash over the weekend on the West Side that killed one passenger and seriously injured another, according to Chicago police. Rafael Paz-Hernandez, 0f the 2300 block of South Avers Avenue in the South Lawndale neighborhood, was charged with failure to report an accident that resulted in death and failure to report an accident that resulted in injury, both felonies. His bail hearing is set for Wednesday.

According to police, the collision occurred at around 6:55 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, in the 2700 block of South Komensky Avenue in the South Lawndale neighborhood. Paz-Hernandez was driving northbound through an alley in a blue Dodge Dakota when he hit a Chevrolet TrailBlazer going west on 28th Street. After the accident, Paz-Hernandez is accused of fleeing the scene on foot and not helping those injured in the crash, police said.

A 30-year-old male passenger in the TrailBlazer suffered fatal injuries from the crash, according to police. Another passenger in the TrailBlazer — a 28-year-old man — also was seriously injured, police said. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for the West Side and Chicago — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Paz-Hernandez was arrested after he was identified as the driver of the Dakota in the crash. He was taken into custody at around 3:30 p.m. Monday at the 12th District police station on the Near West Side and charged.

Rafael A. Paz-Hernandez, 20 (Photo via the Chicago Police Department)

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