Teen Girl Dies After Hit by Van While Retrieving Cell Phone

Chicago - A 13-year-old girl who was struck by a van Thursday as she tried to retrieve a cell phone that was dropped in the road in north suburban Lake Zurich died early Saturday.

Kristina Rodriguez, of 6 Hollycourt Terrace in Lake Zurich, was pronounced dead Saturday at 12:38 a.m. at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, a spokesman for the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said.

A Saturday autopsy revealed Rodriguez died of multiple injuries from a van striking a pedestrian and her death was ruled an accident, the medical examiner's office said.

Rodriguez, along with a 12-year-old girl, was coming from a nearby shopping center about 6:20 p.m. Thursday and crossing U.S. Route 12 (Rand Road) westbound at Pheasant Ridge Road in Lake Zurich, when one of them dropped a cell phone, according to a release from police.

Rodriguez attempted to retrieve the cell phone from the roadway when she was struck by a northbound 2006 Dodge van, driven by a 60-year-old Barrington man.

The driver of the van stopped and has been fully cooperative with police, the release said. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the accident, police said.

The girl was seriously injured and taken to Condell Hospital in Libertyville. She was then transferred to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where she was pronounced dead.

"What a terrible way to start the new year," Lake Zurich Police Sgt. Bob Johnson said after hearing of the girl's death.

Johnson said the investigation is ongoing, but charges against the driver of the van are not expected.

The 12-year-old girl, also a witness to the accident, has been able to provide a statement regarding the incident, police said.

The accident is being investigated by the Lake Zurich Police Department, with assistance from the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team.