Video showed a semi hitting him last week as he was leaving work, officials said.
Hector Banuelos, 18, had just left work last Wednesday. He was less than a block away on his bicycle when he was hit and killed by a truck whose driver apparently never saw him, police and family members said.
Friends have set up a memorial at the intersection, where the 18-wheeler hit Banuelos. The teen moved to the Chicago area from Mexico less than a year ago to earn money to send back home for his family.
"Great kid. Always showed up for work," said Sil Prassas with Tom's Steak House. "Always wanted to do extra, be here and make money."
Banuelos was working an extra shift last Wednesday evening, riding his bike home when he got off just before 11 p.m. He was in the bike lane, video from a car wash next door captured images as the 18-wheel truck turned left, hitting Banuelos, attorneys said.
"He had a right to be seen. We need our truck drivers to keep a proper lookout," said attorney Brian Shellcross with Morici, Longo & Associates.
SEE ALSO | Woman accused of carjacking, killing delivery driver with own car on West Side has criminal history
The driver was headed into a Jewel-Osco distribution warehouse. Attorneys for the family have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver, the owner of the trucking company, and Jewel-Osco.
A spokesperson for Jewel-Osco said in a statement, "We are cooperating with the Melrose Park Police Department on their investigation. The incident involved a third-party carrier, operated by an individual who is not employed by Jewel-Osco."
"The Family is absolutely devastated," Shellcross said. "This was a beloved, 18-year-old young man who had been in the U.S. somewhat recently."
Fellow employees at Tom's Steak House say Banuelos was well-liked, and employees and many customers have been upset constantly since his death.
"He'll always be part of this family," Prassas said.
Melrose Park police say they are still investigating and running on toxicology reports. They have filed no charges against the driver at this point.