CHICAGO (PILSEN NEIGHBORHOOD) — Community Shattered After Deadly Hit-and-Run Kills 22-Year-Old Marcela Herrera, Injures Fiancé Weeks Before Wedding
CHICAGO, IL — A tragic hit-and-run in the heart of Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood has left a young couple torn apart just weeks before their wedding. On the night of Saturday, July 19, 2025, 22-year-old Marcela Herrera was fatally struck by a speeding vehicle while walking hand-in-hand with her fiancé, Mauricio Leyva, 21, near the intersection of West 18th Street and Ashland Avenue. The car fled the scene, leaving behind devastation and a community mourning one of its own.
Marcela died at the scene from her injuries. Mauricio was rushed to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, suffering severe trauma to his legs and pelvis. As of Sunday evening, family members report that while he is now stable, he remains in intensive care and is unaware that Marcela has passed.
The young couple, both lifelong residents of Pilsen, had been finalizing preparations for their wedding, scheduled to take place on August 16. What was meant to be a summer filled with celebration has instead become one of heartbreak and unimaginable loss.
Witnesses Describe Harrowing Scene
According to eyewitnesses, the couple was crossing the street shortly after 10:30 p.m. when a dark-colored SUV traveling at high speed ran a red light and struck them without stopping. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses captured the vehicle moments before impact and showed it fleeing westbound.
“It happened so fast,” said Rosa Jimenez, who had just exited a restaurant nearby. “One second they were laughing and walking together, and the next, the car came out of nowhere. It didn’t even slow down.”
Police have released images from the footage and are actively pursuing leads, asking the public to come forward with any information about the vehicle or its driver. The SUV is believed to be a late-model black Jeep Grand Cherokee with front-end damage sustained in the crash.
Chicago Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Unit is leading the case and has increased patrols in the area.
A Promising Life Cut Short
Marcela Herrera, described by friends and family as joyful, driven, and compassionate, had recently graduated from DePaul University with a degree in early childhood education. She had just accepted a position teaching preschool in Little Village and had dreams of opening her own bilingual daycare center one day.
“She was sunshine. That’s the only word that fits,” said her sister, Daniela Herrera, during a Sunday vigil. “Marcela believed in kindness, in helping kids, and in building something beautiful with Mauricio. They were everything to each other.”
Marcela and Mauricio met in high school and had been together since their junior year. The couple got engaged in early 2024 on a beach in Michigan and had planned a small wedding at a local parish with a garden reception to follow. Friends say the event was nearly entirely DIY—Marcela had designed her own invitations, and Mauricio was building centerpieces with his grandfather.
Community Grief and Outrage
Pilsen, a historic neighborhood known for its vibrant murals, community spirit, and deep cultural roots, has been shaken by the loss. On Sunday evening, hundreds gathered at Plaza Tenochtitlán for a candlelight vigil. Mourners brought white flowers, pictures of Marcela, and signs demanding justice and better street safety measures.
“How many more people have to die before the city takes action?” asked activist Carlos Nájera, a member of Safe Streets Pilsen, who has long pushed for improved crosswalks, speed cameras, and pedestrian signals on West 18th Street. “This corridor is deadly. And now we’ve lost someone beautiful. It’s unforgivable.”
Local leaders, including 25th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, have called on the Chicago Department of Transportation to expedite traffic calming improvements along key streets in Pilsen. In a statement, he said, “The senseless loss of Marcela Herrera is a wake-up call. We cannot allow another tragedy like this to occur.”
Love Interrupted—but Not Forgotten
Mauricio Leyva, a construction apprentice and aspiring architect, had poured his heart into building a life with Marcela. Friends say the two were inseparable — attending church together, volunteering at local youth centers, and hosting weekend potlucks for their friends and family.
“Mauricio adored her,” said their friend Jasmin Torres. “They were building a future out of nothing but love and hustle. Now half of that dream is gone.”
A GoFundMe campaign launched by Marcela’s cousins has already raised tens of thousands of dollars to help the Herrera and Leyva families cover funeral and medical costs. The campaign includes heartbreaking photos of the couple laughing together during their engagement shoot and dancing in the backyard of Mauricio’s childhood home.
The Herrera family has announced plans for a public memorial at Harrison Park next weekend, where Marcela once volunteered teaching summer art classes to neighborhood children.
Investigation Ongoing
As the investigation into the hit-and-run continues, police are urging anyone with information to come forward. A $15,000 reward is being offered for tips that lead to the arrest and conviction of the driver.
“We will not rest until we find the person responsible,” said CPD Detective Laura Mendoza. “Marcela deserved to grow old. Mauricio deserves justice. This community deserves safety.”
A Legacy of Light
Though her life was tragically cut short, those who knew Marcela Herrera say her legacy of compassion and community will endure. Her former professors at DePaul have pledged to establish a scholarship in her name for aspiring bilingual educators, and neighborhood muralists have already begun discussing a memorial mural near the site of the crash.
“She was the best of Pilsen,” said her uncle Miguel. “And we’ll make sure her light keeps shining — no matter how dark this moment is.”
Anyone with information about the hit-and-run is urged to call the CPD Major Accident Investigation Unit at (312) 745-4521 or submit anonymous tips through Chicago Crime Stoppers at (800) 535-STOP.
In loving memory of Marcela Herrera — 2003–2025.
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