Man charged in fatal hit-and-run in Waukegan

A man has been charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash on New Year’s Day in north suburban Waukegan.

Officers responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a minivan about 8 p.m. in the 1400 block of North Lewis Avenue and found a 51-year-old Felicita Alcaide of Waukegan in the street, according to Waukegan police and the Lake County coroner’s office. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The minivan drove away after striking Alcaide, but witnesses to the crash were able to provide investigators with the van’s license plate information, police said. The van was located within minutes of the crash near Williamsburg Drive and Georgetown Lane.

Police said that investigators believe Alcaide was crossing Lewis Avenue in the middle of the block when she was struck. An autopsy Wednesday found she died of blunt force injuries from being struck by the van, officials said.

Maurice Pettigrew, 42, of Evanston was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving death and driving without a valid driver’s license, police said.

Pettigrew’s bail was set at $100,000 and his next court date was scheduled for Friday, police said.