Illinois State Police

Ohio Man in Custody After Fatal Tri-State Hit-and-Run

Hannah is being held on $175,000 bond in the case

An Ohio man is in custody in connection to a fatal hit-and-run on the Tri-State Tollway last fall.

26-year-old Christian Hannah appeared in court on Thursday after turning himself into authorities in connection with the incident. Hannah is accused of striking and killing Illinois tollway worker David Schwarz with a semi-truck he was driving last September, and is now being held on $175,000 bond.

“With today’s arrest, the family got the first sense of relief for the extreme pain and unknowns that have consumed their lives over the last four and a half months,” Schwarz’s family said in a statement.

Schwarz was clearing debris from the Tri-State near 127th Street in Alsip last September when he was struck by a semi-trailer. According to prosecutors, witnesses called 911 after seeing the vehicle serving on the road just minutes before Schwarz was hit.

After the collision, a FedEx driver who witnessed the incident pulled up alongside the truck and told the driver, alleged to be Hannah, that he had struck Schwarz. Hannah then allegedly drove off.

Prosecutors say that after Hannah’s truck was turned over to authorities, Schwarz’s DNA was found on the back of the trailer.

Hannah’s attorney told the judge that he disputes some of the prosecutor’s version of events, but did not specify which elements of the timeline the defendant disputed.  

The Schwarz family was in court on Thursday for Hannah’s first hearing, and they weren’t alone, as countless Illinois State Police and tollway workers were present to lend their support to their fallen colleague.

The family, along with police and tollway representatives, will discuss the arrest at a press conference on Friday morning. 

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