Belleville family grieves hit-and-run victim as police continue search for driver
In the early-morning hours of Feb. 4, an unknown motorist struck and killed a 39-year old Belleville man at St. Clair Avenue and Illinois 157, then fled the scene.
Illinois State Police still have no leads in identifying the vehicle or the driver. The investigation is ongoing, said Trooper Joshua Korando.
Meanwhile, Craig L. Boone’s grieving family held a memorial service last week. Boone’s sister, Charity Ealy Shonk, said her brother had a troubled past, but was “making things right” in his life.
“We want everyone to remember how kind Craig was and to remember his good heart,” she said.
On behalf of her family, Shonk urged anyone with information on the hit-and-run death of her brother to call the police.
And to the person who struck him and left him to die on the road, Shonk says “shame on you.”
“How could you just leave somebody’s family member there to die alone?” she said. “I hope you can feel the anguish that all of Craig’s family is feeling.”
Korando said state police were dispatched to the scene at 12:50 a.m. and found Boone dead on the shoulder of the road. Police still have not identified the vehicle, he said.
Boone was the father of three children that his sister said he loved very much.
“He would have given the shirt off his back. He may not have had much but he was always willing to help out and give what he could,” Shonk said.
She said she will miss her brother’s phone calls, his teasing and his jokes.
“I will also miss him pointing out all my gray hair,” she said. “This is hard on the whole family.”
Anyone who thinks they may have information on the hit-and-run should call Illinois State Police at 618-315-7307.
This story was originally published February 13, 2020 at 5:11 PM.
