Hit-and-run crash in Aurora leaves man dead

By Erika Wurst for Chronicle Media

Image taken from the surveillance camera in the area of Broadway Avenue and Hazel Avenue at the time of a fatal crash on Wednesday, Jan. 31.

Aurora police are searching for the driver of a minivan who fled from the scene of a fatal hit-and-run crash on Wednesday, Jan. 31 in Aurora.

The crash occurred around 6:40 p.m. near Broadway Avenue and Hazel Avenue.

The victim, Danny Anderson, 46, was crossing the crosswalk at Hazel Avenue with a 32-year-old Aurora man when the crash occurred, according to Aurora Police Department spokesman Dan Ferrelli.

The 32-year-old man told police that he was in the crosswalk, crossing westbound with Anderson, when he noticed an older model, gray minivan traveling southbound on Broadway Avenue.

The 32-year-old stopped in the middle of the crosswalk as he saw the vehicle approach, and yelled for Anderson to get out of the way, Ferrelli said. At that time, Anderson ran westbound in front of the minivan and was struck.

The minivan remained on the scene for a few seconds following the crash, but fled southbound.

Anderson was taken by paramedics to an Aurora hospital. He was later airlifted to a suburban Chicago hospital where he was pronounced dead at around 1:50 a.m. Thursday.

The only photos the department has of the suspect’s vehicle were taken from an area surveillance camera, Ferrelli said. The photos of are poor quality, so police are asking anyone with information to contact investigators.

Anyone who has witnessed the crash or have any information, please call the Aurora Police Traffic Division at (630) 256-5330 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at (630) 892-1000. Callers to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and qualify for a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case.

Volunteers from the City of Aurora Emergency Management Agency assisted at the crash scene. The stretch of Broadway where the crash occurred was blocked off until about 10:30 a.m. Thursday as APD Traffic and General Assignment Investigators and Evidence Technicians combed the scene.