Police and autopsy results have ruled the death of Eduardo A. Pena early Sunday in the Gage Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side a homicide. The murder weapon? A black pickup.
Chicago Police opened a homicide investigation after the 21-year-old Pena died after another driver rammed his truck and forced it it to strike a tree. An autopsy confirmed that finding.
About 2:15 a.m., Pena was driving a red 1998 Ford Ranger pickup in the 5500 block of South Kedzie when the driver of a black pickup intentionally rammed his vehicle, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Pena’s vehicle was dragged to the 5700 block of South Kedzie, where it struck a tree, police said. The driver of the black truck then drove away southbound on Kedzie.
Pena, who lived in the Southwest Side Gage Park neighborhood, had to be extricated from the Ranger and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died at 4:44 a.m., authorities said.
An autopsy Monday found he died of multiple blunt force injuries from the crash, and his death was ruled a homicide.
Pena was married with an infant child. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses.
No one was in custody as of Tuesday morning as Area Central investigate.
--Chicago Sun-Times Wire