A late-night traffic stop in Round Lake Beach spiraled into a fatal crash Saturday when a 39-year-old driver slammed his truck into a traffic-signal pole after briefly being followed by police, authorities said.
Officers attempted to pull the truck over on Cedar Lake Road just south of Rollins Road, according to the Chicago Tribune. The driver took off, and the officer followed for about five blocks before ending the attempt and losing sight of the vehicle, the outlet reported.
Roughly 8:44 p.m., the truck crashed into a traffic signal pole at Route 83 and Rollins Road. Emergency crews rushed the driver to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to local reporting. The Daily Herald reports the crash site was about a mile from where the brief pursuit had ended.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team and the coroner's office responded to the scene and are helping Round Lake Beach police piece together what happened, the Daily Herald noted. Route 83 was partially shut down for nearly four hours while investigators examined the wreckage and documented the scene before reopening shortly after midnight.
Investigation and Next Steps
Authorities have not yet released the man's name, saying they are waiting for an autopsy and family notification. According to the Chicago Tribune, investigators are working with the Lake County coroner and the Major Crash Assistance Team to determine the precise cause and sequence of events leading up to the crash.
No charges have been announced, and police say the investigation remains open.
What the Law Says
In Illinois, fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer is defined in 625 ILCS 5/11-204, with an aggravated version laid out in 625 ILCS 5/11-204.1. Under that statute, aggravated fleeing can be charged as a Class 4 felony when certain factors are present, such as causing bodily injury, driving far above the speed limit, or damaging property. The full language is available in the Illinois Compiled Statutes.
Investigators say they expect to release the driver's identity after the coroner completes the autopsy and relatives are notified.
