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Parolee Charged In Hit-And-Run That Killed Chicago Fireman Lorenzo Douglas

 Simeon Barrientas (right) crashed his dad's minivan into Douglas (left), who was repairing his car outside.
Simeon Barrientas (right) crashed his dad's minivan into Douglas (left), who was repairing his car outside.
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Facebook; Chicago Police Department

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — A parolee who's never been issued a driver's license has been charged in the Rogers Park hit-and-run that killed an off-duty Chicago firefighter last month.

Simeon Barrientas, 22, was released on parole for attempted robbery on July 21, 2015, state records show. He is slated to be discharged from his sentence this Thursday.

"I guess that's not going to happen at this point," Cook County Judge Peggy Chiampas said during a bond hearing Wednesday before setting bail at $350,000.

Barrientas was driving his dad's 2003 Chrysler minivan northbound in the 6500 block of North Ashland Avenue on June 12 when he veered across the road about 7:30 p.m. and crashed into 43-year-old Lorenzo Douglas, who'd been standing outside on the southbound side of the street, prosecutors said.

Douglas, an off-duty Chicago firefighter, was legally parked on Ashland repairing his 2012 Toyota Scion at the time, Assistant State's Attorney Liam Reardon said in court Wednesday.

The impact sent Douglas flying into the air and onto a grass parkway, prosecutors said.

Barrientas then crashed his dad's minivan into Douglas' car before hitting a second car, which was pushed into a third, according to Reardon. When the minivan finally stopped, Barrientas got out and ran away.

Douglas was taken in critical condition to St. Francis Hospital and was later pronounced dead on July 5. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said Douglas died of "multiple injuries due to minivan striking pedestrian."

RELATED: Chicago Fireman Lorenzo Douglas Dies While Recovering From June Accident

Douglas worked as a firefighter at the Engine 103 station, a single-engine firehouse in the West Loop known for its open-door policy to the public and its firehouse dog, Freckles.

He had "always dreamed" of becoming a firefighter, and would dress as one as a little boy, younger sister Anita Douglas told DNAinfo.

"He was well known over there in that neighborhood, and well liked at the firehouse," Langford said. "It's just a single-engine firehouse there, just a few guys, but he was well liked."

Shortly after the June 12 crash, Barrientas' parents arrived on the crime scene, prosecutors said, because Barrientas had called his mother and told her what happened. Barrientas' father identified the minivan, Reardon said, and Barrientas later confessed to striking Douglas and fleeing the scene without calling police.

Three witnesses — including Douglas' mother — were able to describe Barrientas to police, Reardon said.

Barrientas, of the 1600 block of West Farwell Avenue, is charged with failure to report an accident causing death and driving without ever having been issued a driver's license.

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