Park Ridge Woman Fatally Struck While Crossing Road

PARK RIDGE, IL — A Park Ridge woman was fatally struck by a car as she crossed the street Wednesday evening, police said. Bina Chowdhury, 42, of the 1500 block of Hoffman Avenue, was walking across Potter Road near Farrell Avenue when she was hit by a southbound Mazda around 6:15 p.m., according to police.

People passing by performed emergency first aid on Chowdhury before paramedics arrived, according to police. An investigation determined she was not in a crosswalk at the time of the crash. She was taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where she died shortly before 11 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner.

Police said the 31-year-old Chicago man who was behind the wheel of the Mazda is cooperating with investigators. The Serious Traffic Accident Response unit of the Major Case Assistance Team shut down traffic for several hours Wednesday night to investigate the scene.

There were no signs that distraction or impairment was to blame for the incident, police said. Park Ridge Police Deputy Chief Duane Mellema said there was no indication that Chowdhury's death was "anything other than a tragic accident."

According to the Park Ridge Herald Advocate, Chowdhury died while walking home from the Ballard Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center, where she would bring Bengali food to her mother every day.