Springfield, Illinois – A tragic incident unfolded near Oaklane Road just east of Interstate 72 on the outskirts of Springfield, where a woman was struck and killed by a Jeep on Saturday evening. The victim has been identified as 36-year-old Alexandria Estrada, who resided in the 1200 block of Oaklane. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and preliminary findings suggest that she died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the incident, according to Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon.
Estrada, who formerly lived in Tucson, Arizona, was living with 53-year-old Steven Mehundrew in Springfield. Mehundrew has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Estrada’s death and has also been charged with aggravated domestic battery, aggravated leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury or death, and leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury or death, as stated by Sangamon County state’s attorney John Milhiser.
The tragic discovery was made when witnesses reported seeing Estrada’s body lying in the roadway, leading deputies to follow a trail of blood from the roadway to a lot in a mobile home park. The investigation also revealed that a Jeep was possibly involved in the incident, leading deputies to identify Mehundrew as a suspect. He was subsequently stopped by sheriff’s deputies in the 2400 block of East South Grand Avenue, and the vehicle was located by a license plate reader camera at Dirksen Parkway and Clearlake Avenue.
Mehundrew appeared in court on Monday morning and was ordered detained in the Sangamon County Jail. His next court date is scheduled for February 15. Meanwhile, the state’s attorney’s office is working closely with sheriff’s deputies on the ongoing investigation.
This tragic incident has left the community in shock and mourning the loss of Alexandria Estrada. As the legal proceedings move forward, local authorities are committed to ensuring that justice is served in this heartbreaking case.