A 98-year-old man has died two months after he was dragged in a hit-and-run outside a suburban gas station.
Esteban Barazza of Summit walked across the street to the corner gas station in the 7400 block of West Archer Avenue daily, buying lottery tickets like clockwork from Citgo employees who looked forward to his visits.
“He used to always joke around,” said employee Edwin Herrera. “He’d buy tickets for us sometimes.”
But on May 10, police say a man backed his Ford Explorer into Barazza just outside the gas station in an incident that was all caught on surveillance cameras.
The 98-year-old former railroad and steel worker initially survived the crash and recalled to family members the horrific details.
“I know he saw me,” Barazza’s daughter, Maria Gardner, said her father told her after the incident. “I saw him looking at me and I saw the tire over me twice.”
Barazza suffered fractures from head to toe, including five fractured ribs. He spent more than a month in the hospital and another at home but ultimately died from his injuries last week.
Local
His family and police are now desperate to find the driver responsible.
“Have a conscience, somebody,” said his daughter Bernice Barazza.
Police say the driver may be in construction. Employees claimed the driver used to frequent the gas station, but they haven’t seen him since the day of the crash.
The vehicle is described as a dark blue or green Ford Explorer with a light bar mounted on top.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call Summit Police at (708) 563-4830.
