Woman Charged In Evanston Hit-and-Run Accidents

Evanston police say preliminary screenings showed no alcohol or other substance abuse

A Wilmette woman is charged with three felonies for a string of hit-and-run accidents in Evanston Sunday.

Annemarie T. O'Shaughnessy, 63, was taken into custody Monday night after Evanston and Skokie police chased her to the 4600 block of Main Street in Skokie.

Evanston police say O'Shaughnessy is responsible for accidents involving a car, a motorized scooter and a cyclist. The incident sparked a police chase that ended in suburban Skokie.

“We could see her swerving, just missing cars,” witness Cleveland Burkitt said.

Police say O'Shaughnessy's Toyota Corolla hit a car near Ridge Avenue and Davis Street in Evanston. That same car went on to hit a woman on a motorized scooter, sending her to the hospital with minor injuries.

The worst accident came when police say O'Shaughnessy's car also hit a man riding his bike in the 700 block of Main Street, nearly snapping the bike in two pieces.

“We saw a bicycle down on the ground, lots of fire engines and tons of police cars around,” said bystanders Cheryl Nester-Detweiler. “We knew something fairly major had happened.”

Evanston police chased the vehicle into Skokie, stopping O'Shaughnessy on Main Street.

“Next thing I know they’re pulling her out of the car,” said Burkitt. “We can hear her say ‘I didn’t do anything. Why are you doing this? I didn’t do anything.’”

Police took O'Shaughnessy into custody and to a nearby hospital for evaluation.

There did not appear to be any substance abuse involved, according to Evanston Police Commander Jay Parrott.

Police said the cyclist was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston in critical condition with injuries to his head. His condition was later stabilized.

O'Shaughnessy faces felony charges of fleeing and eluding police, leaving the scene of an accident with injury, reckless driving and criminal damage to property, along with several misdemeanors.

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