Riverside woman sentenced to 18 months probation for DUI hit-and-run that injured child

RIVERSIDE — A Riverside woman has pleaded guilty to striking a child with her car while driving under the influence of alcohol, according to Cook County State's Attorney.

Julia Ann Rastelli, 51, of the 100 block of Southcote Road, Riverside, was sentenced July 27 to 18 months probation and 480 hours of community service, according to the state's attorney.

The charges were for failure to report an accident and aggravated DUI near a school zone.

According to a Suburban Life story from November, Riverside police said Rastelli had fled the scene after hitting a 10-year-old girl who was being assisted across the street by a crossing guard while returning home from Central School at 3:09 p.m. Nov. 20 at the intersection of Longcommon and Herrick roads.

Police said at the time that the girl's injuries were not serious.

Police reports stated Rastelli had disobeyed the crossing guard and fled the scene after hitting the child, even though witnesses tried to stop her.

She had been talking on her cellphone at the time, according to media reports.

Witnesses were able to give the police Rastelli's license plate number and vehicle description, and police stopped her in the 300 block of Eastgrove Road.

Police said they detected a strong odor of alcohol on her breath and conducted a field sobriety test, which she failed.

Witnesses also were able to identify her from the incident.