5-year-old autistic boy fatally struck by car in Palatine

A 5-year-old autistic boy died early Tuesday after being struck by a car Monday afternoon in northwest suburban Palatine.

The boy, identified as Kobe Lewis by the Cook County medical examiner’s office, was walking alone across southbound Palatine Road just east of Winston Drive when he was struck by a gray 2006 Hyundai Sonata about 4:15 p.m., according to a statement from Palatine police.

Witnesses told police the driver had just turned left from southbound Winston onto Palatine when the boy walked into the path of the car, police said, citing preliminary reports. The boy was not walking in a crosswalk.

He was initially taken to Northwest Community Hospital, but because of the severity of his injuries, was taken by helicopter to Lurie Children’s Hospital.

Kobe, who lived nearby in the 1300 block of East Palatine Road in Palatine, was pronounced dead at the hospital at 1:26 a.m. Tuesday, authorities said. Police said he suffered from autism.

The driver of the Sonata, a 53-year-old Bartlett man, was not injured.

Palatine police are investigating the crash along with the Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team.