A woman has been charged with a hit-and-run that left a 66-year-old pedestrian dead in West Town earlier this year. Prosecutors tried to get the woman jailed pending trial, but the judge decided to let her go home instead.
Iryna Kalach, 39, was behind the wheel of a 2022 Mitsubishi SUV that struck Halyan Hudzan in the 700 block of North Oakley on January 24, prosecutors say.
Prosecutors told Judge Mary Marubio that Hudzan had the right-of-way and was in the crosswalk when Kalach struck her, knocking her to the ground around 8:48 a.m.
A CPD report said Kalach stopped momentarily and then accelerated over Hudzan’s body while turning east on Chicago Avenue and fleeing the scene. Kalach never called 911, never rendered aid, and never reported the crash, according to the report.
CPD’s Major Accident Investigation Unit released images of the vehicle that struck Hudzan and asked people to call in with tips.
Court records show Judge Mary Marubio was prepared to detain Kalach. She filled out most of a detention order, saying photos showed Kalach in the driver’s seat. The judge also wrote that Kalach allegedly “ignored a traffic light” and engaged in “deliberate acts after an accident that further injured the victim,” who was “dragged.”
But Marubio ultimately decided to release Kalach with instructions to show up for future court dates, records show.
Kalach faces charges of felony leaving the scene of a fatal crash and misdemeanor failure to render aid.
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