A man who died Sunday night after his car was hit by a Waukegan police car was misidentified because he was carrying a phony driver’s license, authorities said Thursday.
The victim has been identified as Wilson Alexander Lopez-Ochoa, 21, of the 900 block of Linden Avenue in Waukegan, said police Cmdr. Daniel Greathouse. His license identified him as Fernando Mejias-Gonzalez, 24.
Lopez-Ochoa’s family showed authorities his birth certificate Tuesday, Greathouse said. He used a fake name to get a driver’s license and a job, authorities said. Lopez-Ochoa was from Honduras and had been living in the United States for three years, a relative said Monday.
Police are trying to determine how Lopez-Ochoa got the license. He was cited in July for not having a valid driver’s license and disobeying a stoplight, Greathouse said.
Lopez-Ochoa was driving a Honda Civic that was struck on the driver’s side by a squad car in the 1800 block of Grand Avenue around 10:15 p.m. Sunday, police said.
