Police search for driver in hit-and-run that killed 5-year-old girl

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police are searching for the driver in a hit-and-run that killed a 5-year-old girl in the city's Southwest Side on Saturday.

Lupita Gonzalez, 5, had crossed the street to buy a treat from an ice cream truck that had stopped near her home in the 5900-block of South Mozart Avenue in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, said her father, Juan Marcos Gonzales. She was doing homework at about 3:15 p.m. when she heard the sounds of the ice cream truck.

"Why did he run away?" Juan Marcos Gonzalez asked Saturday.

Surveillance video footage from a neighbor's home security system showed Maria safely crossing the street to the ice cream truck, but then hit as she returned home. Her father said he saw the car coming at her and tried to run to her, but was stopped by a locked gate.

Many neighbors witnessed the incident. Neighbor George Castrejon said the driver went through a stop sign.

"She was trapped under the vehicle and I didn't even want to look at the girl that's how bad it was," said neighbor Esteban Anaya.

Detectives say the car is a dark-colored, four-door sedan with a sunroof and spoiler. The vehicle may have a front-end bra with a sport muffler and a broken headlight.

The car was last seen driving west on 60th Street.

On Sunday, a memorial with two of Lupita's favorite dolls, which she called her babies, were set up near her home.

"She was always full of energy and every time we would get together she would do one of her famous dances with her skirts and her tutus," said Lupita's cousin, Brenda Garcia.

Anyone with information should call Chicago police.