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Family of Park Ridge man killed in hit-and-run suing driver
Kristian Hernandez
Updated: December 11, 2012 7:43PM
A man filed a wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday against a man who allegedly drove off after fatally striking his brother last month in a Maine Township forest preserve.
On Nov. 5, someone riding a bicycle on Touhy Avenue near the Axehead Lake Forest Preserve in Maine Township saw a body lying in the grass just off the road. The cyclist called 911, and sheriff’s police found the body of Ronald Bougan, 53, of Park Ridge.
Kristian Hernandez, of the 8200 block of Knox Avenue in Skokie, was later charged with leaving the scene of and failure to report an accident resulting in death, a Class 1 felony, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s office.
Richard Bougan, brother of Ronald Bougan, accuses Hernandez of speeding, failing to stay in his lane and failing to assist the pedestrian after allegedly hitting him with his car, according to Tuesday’s lawsuit.
Hernandez was arrested after sheriff’s detectives sent out information about the accident, and a possible offending vehicle, and began canvassing local body shops for a vehicle matching damaged parts found at the scene.
They found that a man had brought in a black Dodge Challenger for a repair estimate at an auto body shop in Skokie. The vehicle matched the description of the possible offending vehicle and had damages consistent with the investigation, a release from the sheriff’s office said.
Detectives learned the driver worked as an EMT for a private ambulance company in Skokie and set up surveillance. Hernandez was taken into custody Nov. 7 and admitted being involved in Bougan’s death, the release said.
Hernandez has been arrested seven times in the past, including a violation of an order of protection, domestic battery and possession of a stolen vehicle, the release said. He was ordered held on $100,000 bond.
Tuesday’s lawsuit blames Hernandez for negligence and seeks an unspecified amount in damages.
