CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
A vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian outside of a hospital Friday morning in the Roseland neighborhood in Far South Side. Now, a Chicago woman is mourning the loss of her boyfriend and her dreams of getting married.
About 7:05 a.m., police were notified that a person was hit near Roseland Community Hospital in the 0 to 100 block of West 111th Street, said police News Affairs Officer Laura Kubiak, citing preliminary information.
Paramedics took the person to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, said Fire Media Affairs Cmdr. Will Knight.
The pedestrian—43-year old Kevin Collins—later died from his injuries, Kubiak said.
He was big, but he was a kind, gentle protector who prepared himself academically and career wise to do the work, not just talk about it," the victim's mother, Alice Butler Collins told FOX Chicago News.
43-year-old Ken Collins was doing just that at Roseland Community Hospital. He worked with children in the mental health department.
His mother says Collins worked for eight years as a correctional officer at the Cook County Jail, but changed his career to help young men before they were incarcerated.
This morning, Collins was hit and killed just outside the hospital when he went to pick up his check.
His mother doesn't want her son's goal of helping children to end.
"I want someone to hear this story...and decide that they want to do the same thing. Because his work shouldn't stop, somebody should care."
Collins was not only excited to work at the hospital, but he was saving up to buy an engagement ring for his girlfriend.
His loss extends much further than just his family. His colleagues and community are devastated.
"It's a great loss to the family, to me, but he was happy. He was really fulfilled and he was 43, but he lived a life. And I'm proud to be his mother."
The Chicago Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
