A Winnetka woman is facing charges after she allegedly struck and killed an 82-year-old woman in a crosswalk in Northfield earlier this week, authorities said.
On July 22, at 3:30 p.m. Northfield police responded to the 300 block of S. Happ Road on a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle, police said in a news release Friday. They said the Northfield Fire-Rescue Department was already at the scene tending to the injured pedestrian, Jeanne Dechovitz, 82, of Northfield.
Dechovitz received a laceration to her head and was transported to Evanston Hospital by ambulance, said the news release. It said Dechovitz died the next day.
Northfield police investigated the crash and determined the 49-year-old female driver of a black Mercedes sport utility vehicle exited eastbound from the southernmost driveway of the Northfield Village Center at 300 S. Happ Road in Northfield. The news release said the driver checked for oncoming traffic to her left but did not see the Dechovitz crossing a private driveway within the crosswalk from her right. The driver then struck Dechovitz causing her to fall and hit her head on the pavement.
Northfield Police Commander Thomas Hanus said the fatal accident could have been avoided if the driver and Dechovitz had both been aware of the potential for a mishap.
“This is simply being aware of your surroundings and also making sure you check both sides of the roadway when you’re making a turn,” Hanus said. “The driver looked to the left and did not look to the right and clearly that’s where the pedestrian was coming from which created the issue.”
He also urged pedestrians to make eye contact with drives to ensure they see you.
“Typically that’s a good idea because you never know what the other person is thinking. But in a situation like this, the pedestrian should have the right of way,” Hanus said. “Unfortunately that didn’t happen here.”
The driver, who was not identified by police, was cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and expired registration. She is scheduled for a Sept. 16 hearing at the Skokie Courthouse.
A memorial for Dechovitz is scheduled to be held in Wilmette on Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26. Details were not available at press time.
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.