Woman critically injured in Humboldt Park hit-and-run; police seek driver

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Police are searching for a hit-and-run driver who struck and seriously injured a 19-year-old woman riding her scooter last Saturday in the city's Humboldt Park neighborhood.

The woman, who only wants to be identified by her first name Kelsey, was on her way to meet friends Saturday at the Puerto Rican Festival. But instead, her father received a terrifying phone call.

"She not only was struck, she was run over and she was left there by the person," Paul Marzullo, her father, said.

Marzullo was told she was struck by a car which then took off. Kelsey was on her scooter in the 3200-block of Crystal approaching Kedzie when witnesses say she was hit by a speeding car.

The impact sent her into the air, landing hard on her face and knocking her helmet off. She was rushed to Stroger Hospital.

"Kelsey's going to recover. She's got a little bit of a road ahead of her - broken femur, broken clavicle, broken ribs, not to mention the severe concussion," Marzullo said.

Marzullo saw just how serious the accident was when he brought home her smashed Honda Metropolitan scooter, which he says someone may have tried to steal from the scene.

"The tow truck went to get it and it wasn't where it was supposed to be. I ended up finding it down from the actual accident site so it appeared that someone tried to possibly take it," Marzullo said.

Chicago police are looking for the driver responsible for the crash and released a photo of the car they say hit Kelsey. It's described as a beige, early 2000s model 4-door Chrysler Sebring. Police said four people were in the car.

Marzullo said Kelsey was very comfortable riding scooters and even dabbled in motocross when she was younger. He said he just hopes whomever is responsible turns themselves in to police.