By Frank S. Abderholden
Lake County News-Sun
ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. — Seventy-year-old Rafael Arellano of Round Lake Beach proved last weekend that it would take more than getting hit by a car for him to miss his regular Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
A car broadsided Arellano, who travels the area in an electric wheelchair, just before 6 p.m. Sunday as he tried to cross the intersection of North Lake Shore and West Clarendon drives in Round Lake Beach, according to police. The impact launched him onto the hood of the vehicle, according to Arellano and Deputy Police Chief Michael Scott.
White-knuckling through the pain, Arellano continued on to that meeting because it has provided him strength for 20 years.
The next morning, however, the pain became too much to ignore. A trip to the doctor found three broken ribs and less severe injuries to his knee and leg, he said.
But what’s hurting Arellano most, he said, is that the driver who hit him did not pull over to see if he was OK.
Now, Round Lake Beach police are looking for the hit-and-run driver. According to police, a motorist drove away in a green, four-door Chevrolet.
“Right away two men came out and helped him up and back into his wheelchair and they called the ambulance and police,” said 16-year-old Rosella Arellano, who was helping interpret her father’s Spanish.
The Arellanos don’t know who those good Samaritans were.
Arellano said a stroke nine years ago has limited his speech and movement. Before the stroke, Arellano worked as a school janitor and in retail store security, he said.
Rosella Arellano said her dad gets around in his wheelchair, even going as far away as Wal-Mart, which is about 3 miles away.
“He does pretty good in it and there’s been no problems,” she said.
Until Sunday.
Rafael Arellano, according to his daughter, said he remembers coming up to the intersection and letting one vehicle pass. When he thought it was his turn, he traveled into the intersection, where he was hit.
Arellano said he didn’t immediately feel injured, but his wheelchair suffered minor damage. The ambulance crew helped get the wheelchair’s battery back into place and Arellano said he felt well enough to go on with his day.
Arellano made it to his AA meeting just down Cedar Lake Road.
He said he doesn’t like to miss the meeting because he has been with the same group for 20 years, 10 in Crystal Lake and 10 in Round Lake Beach.
“He also wanted to be the strong man,” his daughter said.
But on Monday, Arellano began to complain about pain in his side.
He was taken by ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, where doctors diagnosed the rib and leg injuries, he said.
Deputy Chief Scott said a nearby security camera didn’t capture the accident and the driver’s identity remains unknown..
Arellano hopes the driver takes responsibility.
“It’s going to be on his conscience ,” said Arellano, through his daughter translating.
“If that happened to their family they wouldn’t like it either,” Rosella Arellano said. “He doesn’t have anyone to take care of him. We hope he comes forward sooner or later, one way or another.”
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©2015 the Lake County News-Sun (Lake County, Ill.)