13-Year-Old Bicyclist Dies After Being Struck By Pickup: Police

NILES, IL — The investigation into Thursday's fatal crash between a bicyclist and a pickup truck in Niles remains ongoing, police said Tuesday.

Sami Yousif, 13, died after he was struck by a Chevrolet Silverado shortly before 2:40 p.m. in the 8200 block of Waukegan Road as he crossed the road at Cleveland Avenue on his bike, according to Niles police and the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

Witnesses told police Yousif rode "directly" in front of the pickup truck as it headed northbound in a middle lane of Waukegan Road.

Although Cleveland Avenue is designated as a bike route, there is no stop sign at the intersection for the four lanes of traffic on Waukegan Road. But there is a crosswalk and multiple signs indicating that drivers on Waukegan should be aware of pedestrians.

Paramedics rushed Yousif to Lutheran General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 5:45 p.m.

The driver of the pickup truck, an 18-year-old Niles man, remained on scene. He did not show any sign of impairment from alcohol or drugs, according to police.

Police said the Major Crash Assistance Team, a suburban interagency task force, was assisting with the investigation. As of Tuesday, no citations or charges had been filed in connection with the incident.

The Culver community is grieving the passing of one of our students. Sam was a joyful, sincere, and warm student. He had a contagious smile that brought joy to the world. Please consider sharing and donating if you are able. With Gratitude, Culver School. https://t.co/Mzt3DT5A80
— Culver School (@culverschool) July 18, 2020

Yousif was due to soon begin the eighth grade at Culver School in Niles School District 71, where administrators described him as kind and joyful, with a love of performing and a contagious smile.

More than 300 people gathered Sunday at the makeshift memorial established at the intersection of Waukegan Road and Cleveland Avenue to remember Yousif at a prayer vigil, Pioneer Press reported. A funeral service was held Tuesday in Northbrook.

A group of local parents collected signatures for a petition calling for traffic signals to be installed at the intersection to make it less dangerous, as well as several other measures to improve the safety of nearby roadways. The petition was signed by Niles Mayor Andrew Przybylo and Village Manager Steve Vinezeano, the Niles Journal reported.

Yousif was the second child to be killed on Waukegan Road since the start of last month. On June 2, a 5-year-old Glenview boy was fatally struck less than 1½ miles to the north in the 700 block of Waukegan Road.