George R. Evans | Homicide Watch Chicago

No prison time for man who was driving 90 mph when he fatally struck Bria Hunter in 2015 in Chatham

Jeff Mayes — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 14:24:47 -0600

By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

George Evans | Cook County Sheriff's Dept.

A man who fatally struck 18-year-old Bria Hunter with a rented car last year in the South Side Chatham neighborhood was sentenced Friday to probation and community service.

George R. Evans, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of reckless homicide with a motor vehicle before Judge Evelyn Clay, according to Cook County court records.

Evans was driving a rented Volkswagen on April 26, 2015, with his cousin and his cousin’s young children in the vehicle when he sped through a stoplight at 87th and Lafayette, and struck a woman while driving nearly 90 mph, prosecutors said at the time.

The impact catapulted the Hunter about 100 feet and shattered the window of the Volkswagen, prosecutors said.

Hunter was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. She lived in the 8200 block of South Kimbark.

Bria Hunter | Facebook

The teen was reported missing by her mother the day after the accident, but was not identified as the victim until ab out six weeks later, when a riend of the family saw her description on the Cook County medical examiner’s office website,

After the crash, Evans was captured on cellphone video standing over Hunter’s body, laughing as he talked about being in another crash the previous week, prosecutors said.

Police found him sitting in the rental care and the scene, and he told them he was driving the rental vehicle because he had totaled his own car a week earlier, police said.

Judge Clay sentenced Evans to community service and 36 months of probation Friday, according to court records.

Bria Hunter identified as pedestrian killed in high-speed crash in Chatham in April

Sun-Times Media Wire — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 17:48:19 -0500

A pedestrian killed in a high-speed crash in the Chatham neighborhood in April that led to a man facing reckless homicide charges has been identified as an 18-year-old South Side woman.

Bria Hunter was walking in the 8700 block of South Lafayette on April 26 when a Volkswagen barreled through a red light at 90 mph and hit her, catapulting her 100 feet, authorities said.

George Evans, 23, has been charged with reckless homicide with a motor vehicle for the crash, prosecutors said previously.

George Evans / Photo from Chicago Police

Hunter had remained unidentified until Tuesday, when a friend of the family saw her description on the Cook County medical examiner’s office website, spokesman Frank Shuftan said.

Prosecutors claim Evans was driving a rented car with his cousin and the cousin’s young children, and had stopped at a gas station near 79th and State.

One of the children woke up and said she needed to use the restroom. Evans said he would get them home, and struck the pedestrian as he headed back toward the Dan Ryan Expressway, prosecutors said.

The impact shattered the window of the Volkswagen, authorities said.

Hunter, of the 8200 block of South Kimbark, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner’s office.

After the crash, Evans was captured on a cell phone video standing over the woman’s body, laughing as he talked about having been in another crash the previous week, prosecutors said.

When police arrived, Evans was sitting in the driver’s seat of the Volkswagen and admitted to the crash, prosecutors said. He told police he was only driving the rental vehicle because his car had been totaled in the other crash.

Evans was ordered held on a $250,000 bond. He was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday for a hearing in the case.

Prosecutors: George Evans crashed into woman at 90 mph

Michael Lansu — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:11:31 -0500

George Evans / Photo from Chicago Police

MATT McCALL
Homicide Watch Chicago

After running over a woman Sunday night in the Chatham, the motorist was seen laughing on a cell phone as he stood over her body, prosecutors said.

George Evans, 23, was charged with one count of felony reckless homicide with a motor vehicle for the crash in the 8700 block of South Lafayette Avenue, police said.

Evans was driving in a rented Volkswagon with his cousin and his cousin’s young children as passengers, Assistant States Attorney Akash Vyas said.

When he stopped at a gas station near 79th and State streets, one of the children woke up and said she needed to use the restroom. Evans said he would get them home, and drove onto the Dan Ryan Expressway, Vyas said.

Evans sped through a stoplight at 87th Street and Lafayette Avenue and struck a woman while driving nearly 90 mph, Vyas said.

The impact catapulted the woman about 100 feet and shattered the window of the Volkswagon, prosecutors said.

After the crash, Evans was captured on a cell phone video standing over the woman’s body, laughing as he talked about being in a crash the previous week, Vyas said.

When police arrived, Evans was sitting in the driver’s seat of the Volkswagon and admitted to the crash, Vyas said. He refused alcohol and drug testing, prosecutors said.

He told police he was only driving the rental vehicle because he had been in a crash a week earlier and his car had been totaled, Vyas said.

The woman’s remains unidentified, and fingerprint analysis is being conducted to determine her identity, authorities said.

Evans and his passengers were taken to Advocate Trinity Hospital for treatment, police said.

In addition to the reckless homicide charge, he was also cited for failing to reduce speed, not yielding to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and disobeying a red light, police said.

Judge Laura Sullivan ordered him on $250,000 bond and scheduled his next court date for May 18.

George Evans charged with reckless homicide in fatal Chatham crash

Michael Lansu — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 19:35:48 -0500

George Evans / Photo from Chicago Police

BY LEEANN SHELTON
Sun-Times Media Wire

A motorist accused of hitting and killing a pedestrian in the Chatham neighborhood Sunday has been charged with reckless homicide.

George R. Evans, 23, was charged with one count of felony reckless homicide with a motor vehicle for a crash in the 8700 block of South Lafayette Avenue, police said.

The unidentified woman -- thought to be in her 20s -- was in a crosswalk about 10 p.m. Sunday when a Volkswagen Passat speeding southbound from the Dan Ryan Expressway struck her, police said.

She was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed the fatality, but said the woman remained unidentified as of Monday.

Evans and a 24-year-old woman riding in the car were both taken to Advocate Trinity Hospital for treatment, police said.

He was also cited for failing to reduce speed, not yielding to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and disobeying a red light, police said.

Evans is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for a bond hearing.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire