Police search for SUV in fatal Niles hit-and-run

Police have released new surveillance footage of an SUV that fatally struck a man in north suburban Niles and left the scene earlier this month.

Officers responded at 10:57 p.m. on Sept. 17 to a call of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in the 8600 block of West Golf Road, according to a statement from Niles police.

This is a Toyota 4Runner similar to the one witnesses say fatally struck a pedestrian Thursday in Niles. | Nile police

Tadeusz Dec, 55, was walking north across Golf just west of Greenwood Avenue when he was struck by a westbound vehicle, authorities said.

A witness told police the vehicle drove away after the crash. It was described as a white 1999-2002 Toyota 4Runner, which may have front-end damage, particularly around its left turn signals, police said. It might have a decal or design on its right side.

Dec, of the 9000 block of West Terrace Drive in Niles, was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where he was pronounced dead at 11:35 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy on Friday said Dec died of multiple injuries from being struck by an SUV and ruled his death an accident.

The The North Regional Major Crimes Task Force Major Crash Assistance Team and Niles police are investigating.

Anyone with information should call police at (847) 588-6500.