Brendan Siddall was struck by white Honda Accord on DuSable Lake Shore Drive as driver fled scene leaving talented musician dead in the street
A beloved member of Chicago’s Gay Men’s Chorus was left to die in the street after being mowed down by a hit-and-run driver who callously fled the scene in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Brendan Siddall, just 26 years old, was crossing DuSable Lake Shore Drive when a white Honda Accord struck him at 3:34am before the heartless driver sped off into the night, leaving the talented musician dying on the asphalt.
The young performer, who served as President of the Membership Council for the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus and worked with disabled residents at a care home, was pronounced dead at the scene in what friends are calling a senseless tragedy that has rocked Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community.
Hunt for the coward
Chicago Police have launched a massive manhunt for the driver of the death car – a white 2019 Honda Accord sedan with Illinois license plate FH49505.
Security camera footage shows the northbound vehicle coming from an offramp at Irving Park Road, indicating the driver exited the highway after striking Siddall – a chilling detail that suggests they knew exactly what they’d done.
The heartless hit came in the middle of the eight-lane highway, with responding officers finding Siddall “down in the middle of the road” in the 3600 block of North DLSD.
One witness who was in a nearby parking lot told Streetsblog they heard a deafening crash followed by screeching tyres seconds later. “I didn’t know that someone had been hit. I thought a drunk driver had hit a wall or something, because that is kind of a party area,” they said.
‘He lit up every room’
Tributes have been pouring in for the charismatic performer who joined the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus in August 2018 and quickly became “a vibrant and vital part” of the community.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved CGMC member and friend, Brendan Siddall,” said Managing Director Kevin Corbett. “Brendan had a unique gift for making people feel welcomed, seen and valued. Their warmth and kindness left a lasting impression on all who knew them.”
We mourn the loss of a beautiful soul whose presence made CGMC a more loving and inclusive place,” the chorus added in a heartbreaking statement.
His devastated aunt Karen described Brendan as a “kind, talented, and beautiful soul” who was “full of life”, adding: “His light continues to shine in the memories we hold and the stories we’ll never stop telling.”
Caring soul who helped disabled
Beyond his musical talents, Siddall worked as a direct service professional at Chicago’s Misericordia Heart of Mercy, a home for people with developmental disabilities, where he was adored by residents and staff alike.
Brendan came in with a lot of enthusiasm, was really fun, worked well with the residents, always had very high energy,” said devastated co-worker TyChina Moore, who now faces the heartbreaking task of telling residents about his death.
The staff is organizing a remembrance of Siddall to help them and the residents with their grief, as the care home struggles to come to terms with losing such a beloved member of their community.
‘Stay true to yourself’
Friend Nico Joshua paid a touching tribute, writing: “Thank you for inspiring me to always stay true to myself and reminding me to live so unapologetically as you have in your 26 short years on this astral plane.”
Others remembered him as an “accomplished actor, singer, and musician” and “a proud supporter of the LGBTQ community” whose “presence was larger than life, imbuing every room he entered with joy, laughter, and an unwavering positivity.”
“He was a steadfast advocate for ‘good vibes only,’ inspiring those around him to embrace the beauty and richness of life,” one tribute read. “Brendan was a light that shone brightly, illuminating the paths of those who knew him.”
Deadly stretch of road
The tragedy occurred on a notorious stretch of DuSable Lake Shore Drive near Waveland Avenue in Lakeview – where there are a total of twelve travel lanes for motorists including nearby Recreation Drive.
Despite a pedestrian underpass from the Lakefront Trail below the highway, the area remains treacherous for anyone attempting to cross the massive roadway.
All northbound lanes were closed from Recreation Drive to Irving Park Road for several hours as investigators from the Major Accidents Unit processed the horrific scene.
Latest in string of tragedies
Siddall’s death is just the latest in a horrifying string of pedestrian fatalities on Chicago’s streets this year:
- April 7: A 72-year-old man killed trying to cross DuSable Lake Shore Drive at Roosevelt Road
- April 29: A 25-year-old woman killed by allegedly drunk driver in North Lawndale
- May 13: A 76-year-old man killed in hit-and-run in Chicago Lawn
- May 16: A 44-year-old man crushed by semi truck in Pilsen
- May 24: 88-year-old Maria Ochoa killed in Garfield Ridge
‘His vibrant spirit lives on’
Those who knew Siddall say that despite standing just 5-foot-5, he was “larger than life” – a bright spark whose energy and enthusiasm touched everyone he met.
“His vibrant spirit and unwavering dedication to positivity will continue to inspire, reminding us all of the power of kindness and love,” read one memorial.
The Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus, still reeling from the loss, vowed that “Brendan will be deeply missed, but their spirit will continue to resonate in the music we make and the community we cherish.”
Justice for Brendan
Chicago Police are urging anyone with information about the cowardly hit-and-run driver to contact Major Accidents at 312-745-4521 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com using reference number JJ302688.
The driver of the white Honda Accord – who left a vibrant young man to die alone on a dark highway – remains at large as a grieving community demands justice for a life cut tragically short.
As investigations continue, Brendan Siddall’s legacy lives on in the music he created, the lives he touched at the care home, and the countless friends who will forever remember his message to live “unapologetically” and spread nothing but good vibes.
In a city plagued by senseless violence, the loss of such a bright light feels particularly cruel. But if Brendan taught his friends anything, it was to keep shining – even in the darkest of times.
