An 18‑year‑old student from Hyde Park Academy High School was killed Monday in a hit‑and‑run crash while on her way to work in Dolton, Illinois, according to CBS Chicago. Investigators are still searching for the driver responsible.
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The victim, identified as Lania Smith, was struck near Sibley Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive as she walked to her job in the south suburban community. Police say the vehicle involved was a red 2007 Chevrolet Corvette, and investigators have identified the car and a possible owner but have not yet apprehended the driver.
Smith’s family described her as a vibrant young woman who was looking forward to graduation, prom, and plans to attend nursing school. Her aunt said the collision occurred just moments from where she lived, and that Lania died instantly at the scene. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover funeral expenses as the community mourns her loss.
This heartbreaking crash comes just days after another Hyde Park Academy student, 15‑year‑old Violet Harris, was killed in a separate hit‑and‑run in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago while riding an electric scooter. That earlier incident has also left families and classmates grieving.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the Dolton hit‑and‑run to contact local police to assist in the ongoing investigation.
