65-year-old woman killed in hit-and-run in Downers Grove ID’d
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – Authorities are offering new details on a hit-and-run crash that left a Downers Grove woman dead on Thursday night.
The DuPage County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Robin Robinson from Downers Grove. If there was one word to describe her, Robinson’s younger sister said, it would be ‘love.’
“She was kind to everybody. She loved everybody, no matter who you were, what you do,” said Annie Moore.
According to the Downers Grove Police Department, just after 9:10 p.m. Thursday, officers responded to a report of a hit-and-run involving a vehicle and pedestrian in the 600 block of Ogden Avenue.
Police say surveillance video later confirmed that Robinson had fallen down in the street and was lying down in the roadway just before she was fatally hit.
According to investigators, car parts that belonged to an Acura RDX were located at the scene and using local records, investigators were able to identify the driver.
Authorities say the driver involved in the crash is a 74-year-old woman who is now cooperating with investigators.
“It’s just amazing for one that somebody could walk away from something – drive away – from something like this and then to not report it,” said Moore. “It’s almost as though it’s not a living human being, and she was a living human being, she was full of life.”
Moore said her family knew Robinson went to the store. Police believe she was returning home when she was killed.
“It’s devastating, and really surreal to say that my sister is dead, she’s been killed. She’s not just dead, she’s been killed, and we need justice,” said Moore. “We need closure. We need the right thing to be done. If you know the person that did this, please report them. If you see a vehicle that has damage on the front end, ask the person how it happened.”
Right now, Moore said, she is in a state of shock, and is trying to stay strong for her family who needs her. She told WGN-TV her heart is especially broken for her sister’s significant other of more than 25 years, who is now trying to cope with the loss of his other half.
“I think that’s why I have my composure, plus, somebody needs to do this, to talk to you guys, to call the coroner, to call the crematory,” said Moore. “God’s giving me the strength right now to do this and I’m sure I’ll fall apart at some point.”
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According to Moore, her sister walked everywhere. Many employees in the area said they recognized the woman and always knew her to be friendly and have a smile on her face.
“It’s always different when it’s somebody that you can put a name to the face. It’s not just a random person,” said James Bond-Harris, who works in the area.
Robinson’s family said she is a familiar face to many in the area. She works at Jewel-Osco, previously worked at ACE Hardware, and before that, the DuPage Inn Bar & Grill for many years.
“It’s emotionally impactful, shall we say,” said Bond-Harris. “I heard about it this morning.”
The crash remains under investigation by Downers Grove Police and the DuPage M.E.R.I.T. Major Crash Reconstruction Team and authorities say details will be released as they become available.
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