Family Asks Hit-and-Run Driver To Turn Himself In As Police Search For Clues

If you have any information, call 311 or contact the Major Accident Investigation Unit directly at 312-745-4521.

The Chicago Police Department's Major Accident Investigation Unit continues to search for the driver of a dark-colored 4-Door GMC or Chevrolet SUV. Based on the body style, the vehicle appears to be either a GMC Yukon or a Chevrolet Tahoe. The vehicle has light-colored rims and running boards along the undercarriage of the vehicle. 

The driver of this SUV critically injured 26-year old Ricardo "Richie" Capistrano in Logan Square on Friday. Prior to the collision, Capistrano was riding his motorized bicycle westbound on North Avenue at the same time as the SUV was traveling eastbound on North Avenue. The driver of the SUV turned left in front of Capistrano as the vehicle turned northbound onto Talman Avenue. 

This is knows as a "left-hook" crash. The Chicago Municipal Code and the Illinois Vehicle Code both require vehicles turning left across traffic, like the SUV in this instance, to yield to oncoming traffic. Obviously, the driver of the SUV did not yield and therefore caused this collision and the injuries to Richie Capistrano. 

The driver also violated the law as it relates to what is required when in a motor vehicle accident. Section 11-401(a) of the Illinois Vehicle Code provides the groundwork for the motorist:

"The driver of any vehicle involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in personal injury to or death of any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident, or as close thereto as possible and shall then forthwith return to, and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident until the requirements of Section 11-403 have been fulfilled."

Section 11-403 of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code more specifically lays out the requirements any such motorist must fulfill before leaving the scene of a collision that leads to personal injuries:

"The driver of any vehicle involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or damage to any vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall give the driver’s name, address, registration number and owner of the vehicle the driver is operating and shall upon request and if available exhibit such driver’s license to the person struck or the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided with an shall render to any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance, including the carrying or the making of arrangements for the carrying of such person to the physician, surgeon or hospital for medical or surgical treatment, if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary or if such carrying is requested by the injured person."

According to reports, Capistrano rode into the back of the passenger side of the SUV. The back passenger window apparently shattered and there is damage to the rear passenger door. The driver of the SUV did not stop and fled the scene on the accident.

Capistrano's family is offering a reward of $1,000.00 for any information leading to an arrest. If you have any information, call 311 or contact the Major Accident Investigation Unit directly at 312-745-4521.