Felony charges have been filed against a Chicago police officer for striking a bicyclist with his pick-up truck on August 3rd then fleeing the scene, according to The Chicago Tribune. The officer was off-duty at the time of the crash, reports The Chicago Sun-Times. The bicyclist suffered serious injuries to her head and lower extremities.
The incident occurred at around 3:25 a.m. near the intersection of California and Wabansia in Humboldt Park. The officer, Michael Bergeson, a nine year veteran, was allegedly driving his Ford F150 when he struck the female cyclist who was riding with her boyfriend. The impact reportedly sent the woman over the hood of the vehicle then onto the street. The Sun Times reports that she was bleeding from the head and was in and out of consciousness at the scene.
Mr. Bergeson allegedly called 911 then fled the scene as the ambulance approached, striking two parked cars as he did so, according to The Tribune. His vehicle's license plate was retrieved at the scene. Two days after the crash, he allegedly made a false traffic report blaming the bicyclist for causing the crash. Prosecutors from the Illinois States Attorneys Office have filed charges against the officer for leaving the scene of an accident and for disorderly conduct stemming from filing a false report, according to The Tribune. Both charges are felonies. Today bail was set at $25,000.
Mr. Bergeson will appear in court again on December 20th.
