Chicago hit-and-run crash leaves girl, 15, dead on South Side

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A 15-year-old girl was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Chicago's South Side on Saturday night. The girl, identified as Violet D. Harris, was riding a motorized scooter when a car struck her and then fled the scene. Police responded to the incident around 8:34 p.m. in the 2800 block of E. 77th Street in the South Shore neighborhood, but the driver had already left by the time they arrived. Violet was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she later died.

Why it matters

Hit-and-run crashes are an ongoing issue in Chicago, with many resulting in serious injuries or fatalities, especially for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. This incident highlights the need for improved road safety measures and stronger enforcement to hold drivers accountable when they flee the scene of a collision.

The details

According to the Chicago Police Department, officers responded to the crash around 8:34 p.m. on Saturday in the 2800 block of E. 77th Street. When they arrived, they found the unresponsive 15-year-old girl, who was riding a motor scooter when she was struck by a car that then fled the scene. Paramedics transported the victim, identified as Violet D. Harris, to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

• The incident occurred around 8:34 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, 2026.

What’s next

The Chicago Police Department's Major Accident Detectives are continuing to investigate the crash and search for the driver who fled the scene.