Tanja Annzionetta Safforld, a 54-year-old woman, was enjoying a movie night with her family when she decided to run to the dollar store. After an hour passed without her return, her family began to worry. The incident occurred on the city’s Southwest Side shortly before 6 p.m. last Wednesday. Investigators report that a gray or black four-door sedan, driven by a male, struck Tanja while she was crossing the street near Western Avenue and Marquette Road. The driver fled the scene, and Tanja ultimately succumbed to her injuries. Her family did not know her whereabouts until the following day.
According to ABC 7 News, the family released some heartfelt statements after losing their loved one. “What is our Thanksgiving to be, to whoever did this to her?” brother Thomas Safforld said. She cooked for us every holiday. She makes our pies. We won’t even have our pies this year. That’s what it means to us. That’s what it means.” “We couldn’t be there with her to say goodbye or anything,” daughter Brittany Rogers said. In addition, “Just turn yourself in. We forgive you. Come on, this is somebody’s mama, please,” son Damion Martin said.
Police have released images of the car connected to the fatal hit-and-run accident, and the Chicago police are actively investigating the case. No arrests have been made at this time.
