A robbery suspect is in custody after a police chase on the Eisenhower Expressway ended with a crash Tuesday morning in the western suburbs, according to Forest Park police.
Officers said the pursuit started around 9:30 a.m., when they tried to stop a vehicle tied to a reported robbery. Instead of pulling over, the driver took off toward I-290 at 1st Avenue, then crashed near 5th Avenue, bringing the chase to a sudden stop. The suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment, and police say charges are pending.
CBS Chicago reports that an officer first tried to pull the vehicle over outside the village limits, before it made its way onto the Eisenhower. Video from the scene shows emergency crews surrounding a heavily damaged vehicle, and as of Tuesday morning the station reported that formal charges had not yet been announced.
Crash adds to a busy stretch
This latest wreck is just one in a string of serious incidents on the Eisenhower in recent weeks. On Jan. 18, a crash in Oak Park ejected a person from a vehicle, and that person later died, according to NBC Chicago. The westbound lanes were shut down for hours, a reminder of how quickly trouble on I-290 can turn deadly and snarl traffic for thousands of drivers.
Local history of pursuits on the Ike
Forest Park officers are not strangers to chases spilling onto the Eisenhower and nearby transit lines. In 2018, a pursuit led to arrests and briefly shut down the CTA Blue Line, according to the Forest Park Review. That episode highlighted how quickly law enforcement activity on the Ike can ripple out to local streets and public transit.
What officials say
Forest Park police told CBS Chicago that the suspect remains in custody and is being evaluated at a local hospital, with charges still pending. Authorities have not yet released additional details about the alleged robbery or the suspect, and this story will be updated if officials provide more information.
