CHICAGO (WLS) — An innocent bystander who was killed after a crash-and-grab on the Mag Mile early Thursday has now been identified.
The victim was a soon-to-be father, whose son was born Friday just a day after his death, family members told ABC7.
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The incident occurred at about 4:53 a.m. Thursday in the 100-block of East Walton Street along the Magnificent Mile downtown Chicago, police said.
Cellphone footage captured the aftermath of a robbery where a pickup truck smashed into a Louis Vuitton store. Several individuals were seen darting in and out, grabbing merchandise. According to police, the suspects then fled the scene in multiple vehicles.
Chicago police said one of the fleeing SUVs ended up crashing into another driver at Michigan and Ohio, upending the vehicle and killing the driver.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified him as 40-year-old Mark Arceta of Skokie.
Family member told ABC7 that Arceta was eager to meet his son.
“Mom, it’s a boy… when he showed me the ultrasound,” the victim’s mother Alejandra Arceta said.
However, about 24 hours before Arceta’s pregnant wife was scheduled to have labor induced, tragedy struck in the heart of the Mag Mile.
“I said, ‘So unfair. Life is so unfair,'” Alejandra Arceta said.
That morning, Arceta’s mother was watching ABC7’s coverage of the burglary.
“And I didn’t know there was an accident already,” she said. “I came to know it only maybe 8 a.m. when my daughter came and told me that happened.”
Mark Arceta passed away at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the very place he was on his way to for his role in animal science research. It was supposed to be his last shift before taking a four-week paternity leave…
Arceta’s family says Friday afternoon his son Dylan was born healthy.
“Of course he’s very happy. Maybe he will visit Dylan always,” Alejandra Arceta said.
Police arrested seven of the alleged thieves, including five who they say were in the vehicle that crashed into Mark Arceta’s car.
They took away the life of a very good person,” Alejandra Arceta said.
Area detectives and the Major Accident Investigation Unit are investigating. Charges are pending.
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