Pedestrian, 22, dies after being struck on Kedzie Avenue
GAGE PARK, IL, (August 09, 2025) - Chicago police are searching for the driver who ran a red light and fatally struck a pedestrian in a Gage Park crosswalk early Saturday morning. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as 22-year-old Jermaine Martin.
Jermaine Martin, 22, was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver early Saturday along South Kedzie Avenue in Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood, according to police.
The crash happened in the 5400 block of South Kedzie Avenue around 3:30 a.m. According to authorities, a silver Toyota 4Runner — believed to be a 2014 to 2024 model — was traveling through the intersection when it ran the red light and hit Martin. The driver fled the scene before help arrived. Martin was transported to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Area One detectives are investigating, and the hit-and-run suspect remains at large.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
Hit-and-run drivers don’t just abandon the victims of a crash, they virtually undermine the safety of the streets and the rules of the road. Nearly 65 percent of people killed in hit-and-run crashes were pedestrians or bicyclists, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
“Having the proper resources is extremely important to investigate a hit-and-run case and prove negligence,” said Candice Bond, an experienced hit-and-run accident attorney and a Managing Partner of Bond Legal.
“Road conditions, signage visibility, and road lighting are all possible contributing factors that are considered and must be thoroughly examined. These procedures are necessary for helping those who have lost a loved one receive the justice that they deserve.”
Added Bond, the national analyst for The Legal Advocate, “The driver always has to take great care behind the wheel.”
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the investigation, the family of Jermaine Martin may be entitled to a wrongful death claim. Family members of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a catastrophic accident such as this incident.
“The stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal.
“We understand just what families are forced to go through, and having their rights protected is vital. A wrongful death lawyer will stay updated on the official investigation and help ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.”
If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a hit-and-run, national legal analyst Candice Bond is available for a free, no-obligation consultation.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).