A Chicago man who prosecutors say sped by a cease signal, fatally struck an 81-year-old bicyclist, after which fled the scene is dealing with prices however will stay free whereas awaiting trial.
Edgar Carrera, 37, is accused of fleeing after a lethal collision that claimed the lifetime of longtime Southwest Facet resident Andrzej Gromada. Prosecutors mentioned Gromada, 81, was using his blue bicycle west on 56th Road close to Rutherford Avenue on October 15, 2023, when Carrera allegedly ran a cease sign up a black Mercedes SUV and struck him.
Gromada was thrown to the pavement and knocked unconscious. He died the following morning. A witness informed police the SUV that struck him stopped briefly, then sped off.
CPD’s Main Accident Investigation Unit recovered Gromada’s broken bicycle on the scene together with an Illinois license plate they discovered on the pavement. They shortly traced the plate to a Mercedes registered to Carrera’s girlfriend, prosecutors mentioned.
Officers visiting the house allegedly discovered the automobile within the storage with a dented hood, a chunk of plastic caught in its grill, and blue paint streaks on the bumper that appeared to match Gromada’s bicycle.
Prosecutors mentioned Carrera initially informed detectives he thought he struck a pothole. However DNA swabs from the SUV’s inside pointed to him as the motive force, and forensic testing confirmed the blue paint from the Mercedes matched the chemical make-up of Gromada’s bike, in accordance with the allegations. Officers mentioned Carrera finally admitted he was behind the wheel however continued to disclaim he hit an individual.
Assistant State’s Lawyer Mike Pekara informed the courtroom that Carrera by no means reported the crash, by no means returned to the scene, and solely acknowledged driving after investigators confronted him with the proof.
Decide Ankur Srivastava denied a petition Pekara filed to maintain Carrera in custody and as an alternative launched him pending trial.
