Matteson man charged with murder in Chatham hit-and-run

A Matteson man was charged with murder after fatally striking a 55-year-old woman with a vehicle while eluding police Thursday evening in the West Chatham neighborhood on the South Side.

Curtis Pugh, 22, was charged with felony counts of murder, leaving the scene of an accident causing injury or death, aggravated fleeing and manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance, according to Chicago Police. He also faces misdemeanor counts of fleeing and eluding police and speeding, as well as various traffic citations.

Chicago Police

Officers tried to pull Pugh over about 6 p.m. when he sped away and crashed into two people in the 7900 block of South Lafayette, police said.

Julia Callaway, who lived about a block from where the crash happened, was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center and later pronounced dead, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

A 30-year-old man was treated at the scene for his injuries, police said.

Pugh was arrested shortly after the crash in the 8200 block of South Lafayette Avenue, police said.

He was scheduled to appear in bond court on Sunday.