Bicyclist Killed In Bridgeport Hit and Run Was Caring Woman

Suai Xie, courtesy of DNAInfo

The 59 year old woman who was killed last week by a hit and run driver was a hard working, caring person. DNAInfo published a thoughtful article this morning about Suai Xie who was killed while riding her bike home from the grocery store in Bridgeport.  It is hugely important to tell the stories of the bicyclists who are killed and injured each year in our city and state.  Sometimes I worry about constantly using the short cut term "bicyclists."  These are people with life stories and families who happened to have been riding a bike.

Check out the full article about Suai Xie here.

Driver In Fatal Bridgeport Hit And Run To Appear In Court Today

Gabriel Herrera, courtesy
The Chicago Tribune

Gabriel Herrera, 65, got into his van at his home on the 3000 block of South Quinn Street, drove around the block on his way to Home Depot, hit and killed 59 year old Suai Xie and kept going.  Ms. Xie was riding her bicycle along the 2900 block of South Poplar Avenue very close to a park at the time of the collision, according to The Chicago Tribune.  The crash occurred at around 5:30 p.m. on Friday.  Apparently, a witness provided police with the van's license plate number leading to Mr. Herrera's arrest a short time later, the Tribune reported.

The driver is scheduled to appear in court today.  He is charged with "one felony count of leaving the scene of an accident that led to a death and one misdemeanor count of failing to render aid. He was also cited for failing to reduce speed," according to the Tribune.

Woman Killed By Hit and Run Driver While Biking In Bridgeport

On a quiet, narrow one-way street next to a park a 59 year old woman was killed yesterday by a hit and run driver as she rode her bicycle.  The crash occurred at 5:30 p.m., according to DNAInfo, well before dark on a sunny late Spring day along the 2900 block of South Poplar Avenue in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood.  The driver left the scene, fleeing eastbound, according to DNA Info.  It has not been reported whether anyone witnessed the crash.  However, given the time of day, location of the crash next to a park and the beautiful weather it is possible that someone saw what happened.

The name of the bicyclist has not been reported.