Authorities believe Anthony Bausal was killed by a hit-and-run driver

JOLIET – Police and Anthony Bausal's family are looking for answers about a hit-and-run incident that left the 62-year-old man dead on the street near his home.

Bausal's body was found on North Center Street late Saturday night. Police said they received the report at 11:56 p.m. of a man in the street. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 1:35 a.m.

On Monday, Will County Coroner Patrick O'Neil said a preliminary autopsy showed Bausal had sustained multiple injuries after being struck by a vehicle.

Bausal was found in the middle of the road between Russell Street and Frank Avenue.

Police said investigators believe Bausal was walking home from a nearby bar when he was struck by a vehicle.

No witnesses had been found, and police are asking for any help in the investigation, Joliet Police Cmdr. Al Roechner said Monday afternoon. Police spoke with neighbors, did a reconstruction of the scene, and are trying to determine the vehicle make or model from debris left on the scene.

“We’ll continue to look and see if we find the person [who hit him],” Roechner said.

At Bausal's home on Monday morning, his daughter and son were mourning his loss and looking for answers about what happened.

Bausal, who had four children and 11 grandchildren, was someone who liked to have fun with his family and whom everybody liked, said his daughter, Jennifer Weatherspoon, 29, of Harvey.

“He was never a confrontational gentlemen,” she said.

Weatherspoon said she went to her father's home at about 12:10 a.m. after having been at the movies with her sister. She saw about seven Joliet police cars near the intersection of North Center Street and Russell Avenue.

Weatherspoon said a friend told her that her father had been at the Crow’s Nest Sports Bar and Grill on North Center Street on Saturday night and that he got into an altercation before leaving. Roechner said authorities have not found anything to prove an altercation took place at the bar.

“He was a good, loving man,” said his son Christopher Bausal, 24. “He loved his grandkids and he loved his kids.”

• Herald-News reporter Brian Stanley contributed to this report.

Do you know anything about this incident?

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Joliet Police at 815-724-3020 or can anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 800-323-6734