Investigation Continues Into Driver Who Hit Biker, Cars, Scooter Sunday

Police are continuing to investigate a driver who caused multiple crashes Sunday morning in Evanston, including one that sent a bicyclist to the hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries, according to Evanston police.

Criminal charges had not been finalized as of Monday evening so police were not yet releasing the name of the driver, who is a 63-year-old woman. Initial tests showed no alcohol or drugs in her system, police said.

Police are also seeking the public’s help in determining if she hit something else that caused damage to her driver’s side door.

The series of events started at about 10:30 a.m. Sunday with a report of a female driver in a 2007 Toyota who was involved in a hit-and-run crash at Church Street and Ridge Avenue.

A short time later, the same car was involved in a crash in the 600 block of Chicago Avenue. In that incident, the Toyota hit another car and a motor scooter. The driver of the other car and the scooter both complained of minor injuries.

The third crash happened soon after that at the intersection of Custer Avenue and Main Street where the same driver hit a 48-year-old man from Chicago who was on a bicycle, police said. His injuries were considered life threatening at the time and he was listed in critical condition at Presence St. Francis Hospital, police said. He has since been upgraded to serious condition and is in the ICU.

Police located the driver on Main Street near the Skokie border and took her into custody and to the hospital. Preliminary tests for alcohol or illicit substances came back negative, police said, though further blood tests are being conducted.

Police released the photo of the Toyota above because the significant damage to the driver’s side door is not consistent with the three crashes they know about.

If anyone has information about an additional crash that this vehicle may have been involved in, please contact the Evanston Police Department at (847) 866-5000.

For more Evanston news, sign up for our free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.