A South Side family is mourning the loss of a bright young star today.
According to ABC7 Chicago, 18-year-old Lania Smith was killed Monday in a Dolton hit-and-run.
Lania was a senior at Hyde Park High School and was only days away from her graduation.
The tragedy occurred near the intersection of Sibley Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
Lania had just finished her school day and was heading to her job at a restaurant in Calumet City.
Her aunt, Shaliah Maddox, reported that Lania was switching buses when a car struck her.
The driver did not stop to help the dying teenager.
Maddox told reporters that Lania died instantly at the scene.
The family is now struggling to process a life taken far too soon.
Lania was described as a “go-getter” who was always happy.
She was a dedicated member of the Hyde Park High School pom squad.
Her future plans included attending prom and enrolling in nursing school.
Lania was the oldest of five siblings who are now without their big sister.
The person responsible for this heartbreak remains at large.
Investigators have identified the suspect vehicle as a 2007 red Chevrolet Corvette.
The car has a black top and an Illinois license plate number of FR 56003.
Dolton police are asking anyone who sees this vehicle to contact them immediately.
This loss is especially painful for the Hyde Park High School community.
It has been only nine days since another student, 15-year-old Violet Harris, was killed in a similar incident.
Harris was riding her scooter near 77th and Exchange when a driver struck her and fled.
Both families are now united in grief and a desperate search for justice.
“She deserves someone to speak on her name,” Maddox said during her emotional plea.
A GoFundMe page has been established to help Lania’s family cover unexpected funeral costs.
The investigation into the Monday afternoon crash remains active and ongoing.
Police urge anyone with information about the red Corvette to come forward.
