Crime & Safety

Man Charged After Hit & Run Crash Critically Injures Teen: Police

John Severson of Elwood accused of hitting 14-year-old girl and driving off.

An Elwood man is facing charges after allegedly leaving the scene of a crash that seriously injured a 14-year-old Joliet girl on Monday night.


John E. Severson, 59, of the 18000 block of Breen Road, is behind held at the Will County jail on charges of failure to report an accident with injury, which is a felony, as well as driving an uninsured vehicle, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and violating a driver's license restriction, according to jail records.

The teenager, whose name has not been released, was struck by an SUV as she crossed the street to get to an apartment complex on Chicago Street/Route 53 at Pheasant Run Road at around 8:30 p.m. Monday.

The teen was taken to Presence St. Joseph Medical Center before being transported to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. The girl suffered life-threatening injuries, police said.

State police said Severson initially left the scene of the crash but returned about 30 minutes later, according to NBC Chicago. It wasn't clear whether Severson went back to the scene to turn himself in, or if witnesses recognized his vehicle and told police.

Severson appeared in Will County court on Tuesday afternoon and a judge set his bond at $50,000.


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