A dramatic police pursuit on Chicago's Far South Side culminated early Wednesday when a U-Haul truck, revealed to have been stolen, veered off the road and plunged into the icy waters of the Little Calumet River. The crash and its subsequent chaos unfolded just after 4:20 a.m. near the junction of 130th Street and Indiana Avenue, according to both the Chicago Sun-Times and ABC7 Chicago.
Following the crash, the unnamed driver of the U-Haul made a desperate attempt to evade the law by jumping into the river. A spokesperson from the Chicago Fire Department said that the suspect tried to swim away from Hammond police officers, however, the frigid water soon halted his flight. Officers, disregarding their own safety, followed him into the winter-cold river to attempt an apprehension.
Rescue came in the form of Chicago Fire Department divers who retrieved the driver from the hostile river and brought him back to shore. After the harrowing ordeal, the driver was transported in critical condition to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. The medical status of the individual remains precarious, with updates on his condition pending.
Despite the dramatic rescue, law enforcement has yet to confirm what prompted the high-speed chase. Likewise, the sequence of events leading to the U-Haul's forceful descent into the water remains unclear. What is certain, though, is that the incident is another stark, manifestation of crime's collision with public safety in the city's streets.
Further details on the chase or the driver's motives have not been disclosed. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
