Man, 18, killed in Des Plaines hit-and-run

DES PLAINES, Ill (WLS) -- Police in northwest suburban Des Plaines are looking for the driver who struck an 18-year-old pedestrian, causing deadly injuries, then fled the scene.

Police said shortly before 10:30 p.m. Saturday they received a call that a pedestrian had been struck. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Henry Sinisterra of Rosemont unresponsive. He was taken to Lutheran General Hospital for life-threatening injuries.

"He was a funny guy, my nephew, very funny and very optimistic. He found every which way, even if something was wrong, to find light in darkness," said his uncle Roman Dimoreno.

Police said a red SUV of unknown make and model was seen fleeing the scene shortly after Sinisterra was struck.

"The way it looks, he got hit really fast, the vehicle was going at high speeds," Dimoreno said.

Witnesses said they saw the victim walking on the street prior to the incident, and that he had almost been struck by other vehicles who had to swerve out of his way.

His father said Sinisterra had been at a friend's house in Des Plaines before the incident.

"He had left the house, something had made him upset, and he started to walk," Javier Montoya, father, said.

Sinisterra died at Lutheran General Hospital Sunday night. He was kept on life support so his organs could be harvested for donation Tuesday night. His family said they have already found a donor match for his heart.

His family now cherishes the last photo of him, taken just a day earlier at a family outing they did not know would be their last.

"It's going to be a good one to remember. No matter what, Henry was always going to be with us," Montoya said.

If you have any information about this incident, contact Des Plaines Police at 847-391-5400.