Following an altercation at an Edgewater crosswalk, an Evanston woman allegedly drove her car into a pedestrian, severely injuring the 61-year-old man. The victim sustained a traumatic brain injury, necessitating long-term residential care, according to prosecutors’ detention filing.
Ivory Buchanan, aged 41, faces charges of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated battery related to the July 26 incident.
The confrontation occurred as the victim was in a crosswalk at Ravenswood Avenue and Ridge Avenue. Buchanan, driving a black 2023 Ford C-Max, reportedly failed to yield around 6:20 p.m. The man, upset by this, struck the vehicle with his hand, prompting Buchanan to halt and direct the car toward him, as detailed in the filing.
Buchanan engaged in a verbal dispute with the man after rolling down her window. During the exchange, the man approached her and spat in her direction before walking away.
According to prosecutors, Buchanan accelerated her car toward the man, stopped, and then turned the vehicle toward him again. She allegedly accelerated once more, hitting the man and pinning him against a fence. After reversing with the man clinging to the hood, Buchanan accelerated again, causing the man to fall and hit his head on the pavement. She then fled the scene.
Two witnesses observed the incident, which was also captured by a surveillance camera. Chicago police utilized the footage to identify Buchanan’s vehicle and its license plate, as outlined in the detention filing.
The victim, suffering a traumatic brain injury, had not shown any response to stimuli as of last week and was expected to be transferred to a long-term care facility.
During a police interview, Buchanan allegedly claimed that the man had been aggressive toward her and stated she did not remember events after he was on the car’s hood. She reportedly told authorities she sold the Ford at auction the day after the incident but could not recall the auction house’s name.
Judge John Hock approved the state’s petition for detention.
