Vigil held for Chicago 18-year-old on bicycle killed in SW Side hit-and-run crash

CHICAGO (WLS) -- People came together to remember an 18-year-old who was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Sunday. They gathered at the spot where Damian Gomez was hit while riding his bike.

Gomez's loved ones are hoping the driver who took off will be held accountable.

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In the wake of Gomez's death, his mother, Claudia Torres, is turning her pain into purpose, coming out with others to the very intersection where police say her 18-year-old son was killed by a driver who then walked away and left him dead at the scene.

Each chant said aloud Wednesday evening at 63rd and Kedzie spoke out for Gomez's life, that was cut short.

"It's painful to be here," Torres said. "He had so many goals, so many dream, and now everything's gone."

Security video shows the moment a man crashed a red Ford Explorer, early Easter Sunday morning, after police say he ignored a traffic signal and hit Gomez while the 18-year-old was delivering food for DoorDash.

The man was then seen walking away and leaving Gomez's body behind.

"Walk away like he didn't hurt anybody," Torres said. "I'm going to do everything I could to do justice for him, and that I miss him so much. I miss him so much."

Gomez's family and friends came together at the intersection where the teenager died.

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In nearby Gage Park, Gomez's father, Willie Gomez, met with other bicyclists, riding in his son's honor from there to the site of vigil.

"The blessings they were gonna have. All taken away. I can never get back," Willie Gomez said.

They then joined a resounding cry, not just for justice in Gomez's case, but for what they say is much needed safety reform for bike riders on city streets.

"It should've been a movement before a tragedy," said Alfredo Valladares, Jr. with Gage Park Cyclists. "We shouldn't be waiting for an example to make sure that everybody around us is safe."

Police say a 22-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the suspect's SUV, was left critically injured. So far, police still have made no arrests.

A family member created a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for relatives.