Pregnant Woman Michelle Heidbrick Killed in Waukegan Hit-and-Run; Driver Charged (September 23, 2025)

A pregnant woman was fatally injured in a hit-and-run incident on September 21, 2025, in Waukegan, Illinois. Michelle Heidbrick, 36, was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street. The driver of the vehicle, identified as Rosalinda Vaca, 49, fled the scene but later surrendered to the Waukegan Police Department.

According to police, Vaca stated she "struck something" but did not realize it was a person until hearing news reports. Heidbrick, who was 22 weeks pregnant, was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The Lake County Coroner's Office determined the cause of death to be blunt force injuries. Vaca faces charges of leaving the scene of a fatal accident.