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Woman killed, fiancé injured in hit-and-run crash on Chicago's West Side

Woman killed, fiancée seriously hurt in Pilsen hit-and-run
Woman killed, fiancée seriously hurt in Pilsen hit-and-run 02:30

Chicago police are searching for the hit-and-run driver who hit and killed a woman and injured her fiancé over the weekend. 

The family of 22-year-old Marcella Herrera said the two were crossing the street when an unknown driver hit them. 

A witness said she was driving behind an SUV at the intersection of Ashland and Cullerton late Saturday night. That's when the car sped past her and hit the couple as they were in the middle of the crosswalk. 

Herrera's family said she lived with immense love, ambition, and joy. Now, her "spirit, hopes, and dreams were stolen in an instant" after she was hit and killed here at Ashland and Cullerton around 11 p.m. Saturday.

Her friends and family put a small memorial at the corner today as they pleaded for witnesses to come forward with information to help police.

"Hopefully, it will be a positive outcome," Lisa Pajon said.

Pajon said she was driving home down Ashland the same night.

Herrera's family said she had just finished working at Pilsen's Tacos and Tamales Festival, and her fiancé was going to pick her up and take her to dinner. As they were crossing the street, Pajon says they were both hit. So she called 911.

"We all reported that the car drove off and didn't even hesitate," she said.

Herrera's family said the couple was planning their wedding and was excited to start a new chapter. Herrera died, and her fiancé was seriously injured. 

"It was pretty horrific. The fiancé gave me thumbs-up when the 911 operator asked me if he was aware, if he was breathing, if he was awake," Pajon said.

She said the car that hit them was an SUV and is not sure what direction they drove off after.  

"It was definitely light, white, or silver, or cream for sure. One of the other people on the street said it was a Jeep," Pajon said.

She said if she could speak with Herrera's family, Pajon would say she's sorry and wants them to get justice, as what took place, she said, was an unforgivable act. 

"Hopefully, it means more people will pay attention and get footage if they have cameras, anything out there that they can do to get as much attention on the car, where they went afterwards," she said.

Some businesses in the area said they have video footage of the car, but police have not released it at this time.

Police said no one is in custody and police are investigating.

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