Wheeling Police Crash Leaves Pedestrian Dead

By Amie Schaenzer

A Des Plaines man is dead after being struck by an on-duty Wheeling Police Department squad car while walking by himself around 5:30 a.m. Sunday near McHenry Road, west of Cedar Run Drive, in Wheeling, according to the Daily Herald.

Fredi Morales, 20, had spent the night out with his brother, Oscar Morales, and some friends before the accident. A family member told the Daily Herald Fredi had called Oscar after he became lost trying to find Oscar’s car.

Police told Morales’ family Fredi was hit by the squad car “that was chasing a speeding car and had its lights on,” according to the Daily Herald. But questions remain over the officer involved in the crash and what exactly happened prior to the crash, WGN TV News reports.

Lori Wood, who lives in Wheeling near where the accident happened, told the TV station she was up early and looking out her window when she noticed the Wheeling police SUV go by extremely fast without its lights or sirens activated.

A short time later she said she heard “a screech and then a thump,” according to WGN News.

Fredi Morales was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:26 a.m. Sunday, according to the Chicago Tribune. The accident remains under investigation.

Read more on the Daily Herald or watch the WGN TV News report