January 3, 2010
Thirteen-year-old Kristina Rodriguez was crossing a Lake Zurich intersection with another girl Thursday when one of them dropped a cell phone.
As Kristina went to retrieve the phone, she was struck by a van driven by a 60-year-old Barrington man, police said.
Her death has been ruled an accident, and no charges are anticipated against the driver of the van, officials said Saturday.
"What a terrible way to start the new year," Lake Zurich police Sgt. Bob Johnson said.
The accident happened around 6:20 p.m. Thursday as Kristina and a 12-year-old girl were crossing Rand Road at Pheasant Ridge Road after leaving a nearby shopping center, Lake Zurich police said.
The driver of the 2006 Dodge van stopped after hitting Kristina and has been fully cooperative with officers, police said.
Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash, police said.
Kristina was taken to Condell Hospital in Libertyville. She was then transferred to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where she was pronounced dead at 12:38 a.m., authorities said.
Johnson said an investigation is ongoing, but charges against the driver of the van are not expected.