Man charged after woman, 62, struck and killed

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Charges have been filed against a driver accused of causing a deadly accident on Chicago's Northwest Side.

Maciej Machniewicz, 45, of the 4400 block of W. Barry Ave., is charged with causing a deadly accident, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without a license. He'll be in court Thursday.

Lida Xhelo was killed while on her way home from work Monday evening. She was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police say the suspect crashed his car into another car at Austin and Belmont. Her family says Xhello just moved to Chicago from Albania last year.

Police said Thursday Machniewicz's vehicle struck a traffic box, a light pole, a fence and a pedestrian before coming to rest.

Police said Xhelo was standing on the sidewalk in the 5900-block of West Belmont Avenue when she was fatally struck around 6:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Xhelo, of the 6000-block of West Eddy Street, is described as a hard-working woman who would do anything for her family. That dedication is why she left her native Albania last year to live with her daughter's family in the city's Northwest Side.

"(She) came over here to help us with our kids and was my son's best buddy," said Elton Kaci, Xhelo's son-in-law.

Still, adjusting to life in Chicago was hard for Xhelo, but she did manage to get a job outside the home as an adult caregiver.

Her family says she was heading home from work, getting off a bus at Belmont and Austin, when the incident occurred.

Kaci says the deadly crash has devastated his wife.

"She started to blame herself for bringing her mother here," Kaci said.

He said his 9-year-old son is also having a hard time with the news.

"In her pocket, actually, we found some words that my son gave her to teach her English," Kaci said.

In the meantime, Xhelo's family is making arrangements to bury her in Albania.

"Very, very bad thing, (it will) change everybody's life here," Kaci said.