Blue Island Man Charged in Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash (Cook County, IL) – A 38-year-old Blue Island man has been charged in connection with a fatal traffic crash in Robbins that killed a man using a mobility scooter, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced.
The crash occurred around 12:30 p.m. Jan. 9 near the intersection of 139th Street and Kedzie Avenue. According to authorities, Robbins police contacted the Cook County Sheriff’s Police to investigate after a vehicle struck a pedestrian in a crosswalk and fled the scene.
Investigators said the victim, identified as 63-year-old Sammy Simmons, was crossing the street in a mobility scooter when he was hit. Simmons was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Following an investigation, sheriff’s police detectives determined that David Avalos was driving the minivan involved in the crash. Detectives also learned that Avalos had consumed multiple alcoholic beverages before driving, authorities said.
Avalos was taken into custody Jan. 21. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged him with aggravated driving under the influence causing death and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
After an initial court appearance Jan. 22 at the Markham Courthouse, Avalos was ordered held in custody at the Cook County Jail.
As with all criminal cases, the charges are accusations, and Avalos is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Blue Island Man Charged in Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash
