74-year-old charged in fatal Belleville hit-and-run

BELLEVILLE, Ill. - The St. Clair County State’s Attorney Office has charged a 74-year-old man in connection to a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of a 33-year-old woman in Belleville, Illinois. 

On Aug. 21, the Belleville Police Department was alerted to reports of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in the 900 block of South Greenmount Road around 3:30 a.m.

Officials say that when they arrived at the scene, they located Emily Johnson, of Mascoutah, suffering from life-threatening injuries.

Belleville Police reported that before first responders arrived at the scene, the suspected vehicle in relation to the fatal hit-and-run left the area.

First responders—attempting to save Johnson’s life—transported the 33-year-old to a nearby hospital, but she passed away from her injuries.

Since Johnson’s passing nearly a month later, Robert J. Wedig, of Mascoutah, was charged with one count of failure to report an accident involving death on Sept. 16. 

Belleville Police say Wedig and his attorney appeared at the St. Clair County courthouse for further court proceedings.