CHICAGO — A 26-year-old suburban man is facing a felony charge for a hit-and-run that killed a Bridgeport man early Sunday, authorities said.
Authorities said Kyle Hawkins of Broadview was driving the white Jeep SUV that struck 23-year-old Phillip Levato of the 1300 block of West 32nd Place as Levato was crossing the street in the 800 block of North LaSalle Street around 4 a.m.
Hawkins drove off southbound without stopping after hitting Levato, police said.
Levato was taken in critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.
Hawkins turned himself in to police Wednesday afternoon, and admitted he hit Levato, police said.
During a bond hearing Friday, prosecutors said part of Hawkins' Jeep fell off after he hit Levato — and it had the SUV's vehicle identification number on it.
Hawkins' attorney, Luther Spence, said the crash was "purely an accident ... whether he fell asleep or dozed off."
Hawkins was charged with failure to report an accident resulting in a death. Judge Laura Sullivan ordered him held in lieu of $40,000 bail. His next court date is set for Nov. 29.
Walking out of the Cook County Criminal Courthouse Friday, Phillip M. Levato, the father of the victim, would not comment on his son’s death.
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