Morton Grove hit-and-run victim ID'd; Police ask for help in finding car

MORTON GROVE, Ill. (WLS) -- Richard A. Mikulec, 86, was struck and killed by a car in Morton Grove on Monday evening. Police are asking the public for help in finding the driver, who fled the scene.

Mikulec was walking along Shermer Road north of Harlem Avenue around 7:45 p.m. Monday when he was struck by the vehicle. He was rushed to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where he died.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday. Mikulec lived less than half a mile from the crash.

"He was a nice man from what I could see. He was a very nice man, well-dressed and good manners," Ismet Jakupi, Mikulec's neighbor, said. Mikulec's wife passed away several years ago, Jakupi said. He saw Mikulec shoveling snow the day before he was killed.

"I felt so sorry for the guy. I couldn't believe it because I never seen him walking. Never. I don't know what happened, you know. Why did he go to walk? Maybe his car wasn't working or something?" Jakupi said.

Police do not have a description of the vehicle, but said it likely has front-end damage. Anyone who witnessed the accident or saw a vehicle with damage should contact police. Lili Baker, who lives near the crash site, said it's a busy street.

"Very dangerous. Because this is a county line, county highway, and there's a lot of cars that go by," Baker said.