A passerby administered CPR to a retired Chicago police officer after he was struck by a hit-and-run driver in Edison Park on the Northwest Side Thursday evening.
But the officer, Richard Haljean, was pronounced dead after he was taken by ambulance to Resurrection Hospital, according to police. He was 57.
An autopsy ruled his death an accident.
Haljean was walking across Touhy Avenue at Oriole Avenue when he was hit around 6:15 p.m. by a Jeep Cherokee that was headed west on Touhy, according to a police accident report. The driver “did not stop to render aid and continued west of Touhy, fleeing the scene,” the report states.
One of three witnesses to the accident administered CPR to Haljean. He declined to comment when reached by the Sun-Times.
Another witness told police he saw “the entire chain of events,” while the third witness provided video of the accident, according to the report.
Emergency crews also recovered the front license plate of the Jeep at the scene. It is registered to a man in Palatine who apparently works about half a mile from the accident.
Reached by phone, the man confirmed he owned the Jeep involved but would not comment further.
“I can’t talk to you right now,” he said. “I’m being investigated, so I can’t talk to you. Do you understand me?”
No charges had been filed as of Friday morning.
The Chicago Police Department extends its sincere condolences to the family, friends and former colleagues of recently retired Officer Richard Haljean. He succumbed to his injuries yesterday, after being struck by a vehicle in a hit and run accident. Rest In Peace, Hero. pic.twitter.com/9UnCshyzP4
— Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) January 21, 2022
