Lester Jackson Jr. dies in fatal West Side hit-and-run

Lester Jackson Jr. dies in fatal West Side hit-and-run

Fatal West Side hit-and-run death of Lester Jackson Jr. – Obituary

CHICAGO — A hit-and-run crash on Chicago’s West Side Tuesday evening claimed the life of 79-year-old Lester Jackson Jr. and left his wife, Jennifer Moore Jackson, critically injured, according to police and family reports.

The collision happened around 8:27 p.m. near the intersection of Western Avenue and Jackson Boulevard. Police say the driver of a black vehicle heading south on Western Avenue ignored a red light and slammed into the Jacksons’ white sedan, which was traveling west on Jackson Boulevard.

Both vehicles struck a nearby pole and a fence due to the force of the impact. The driver of the black car reportedly fled the scene on foot, leaving behind the wreckage and injured victims.

Lester Jackson Jr., who had survived cancer twice and a severe case of COVID-19, was rushed to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His wife, 62-year-old Jennifer Moore Jackson, remains hospitalized in critical condition but is expected to recover.

Jackson’s daughter, Carol Hymon, expressed the family’s heartbreak, recalling how close the couple was to home — just 2.5 miles away — when the tragedy occurred. “He overcame so much, only for this to take him. It’s just devastating,” she said.

She also shared the emotional difficulty of facing Father’s Day without him, adding, “I don’t want to celebrate it because he won’t be here. I won’t be able to send him a message or call him.”

Loved ones described Jackson as a devoted husband, father, great-grandfather, and passionate fisherman who served as the cornerstone of their family. “He meant everything to us,” Hymon said.

Community members noted that speeding and reckless driving are common along Western Avenue. Local resident Sarah Johnson commented, “People fly down this street all the time. They really need to put cameras or more enforcement here.”

City workers were seen testing the traffic lights at the intersection the day after the crash, but residents argue it’s not enough.

As of now, the driver responsible remains at large. No arrests have been made, and detectives from the Major Accidents unit continue to investigate.