A late-night chase on the Dan Ryan ended with a stolen pickup smashing into an Illinois State Police squad car on Chicago’s South Side early Monday, authorities said. The pursuit started on the northbound lanes near 87th Street and spilled into city streets, where the truck finally crashed near 72nd Place and Stony Island Avenue in the Grand Crossing neighborhood. Two people bolted from the vehicle on foot; one was caught and taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries. The investigation was still underway early Monday.
How police say the chase unfolded
Around 12:04 a.m., a state trooper spotted the pickup, which Chicago police had reported stolen, and tried to pull it over, according to CBS Chicago. Instead of stopping, the driver took off. After a brief pursuit off the expressway, the truck collided with the Illinois State Police squad car and then came to a halt. State police said two people jumped out and ran; one was arrested and taken to an area hospital with minor injuries. The agency said the investigation remained active early Monday.
Troopers and traffic stops: A risky line of work
The Illinois State Police have logged other cases this year where troopers were hit during traffic operations, underscoring how dangerous patrol duty can be on crowded expressways, according to an Illinois State Police press release. A January release described a stolen vehicle slamming into a squad car on the South Side, while an April notice detailed arrests after crashes that injured a trooper. Together, those accounts show how quickly a routine stop on I-94 and other major routes can turn into a crash scene.
What happens next
Illinois State Police and Chicago police continued to investigate and had not released the names of anyone involved. It was still unclear whether more charges might be filed, according to CBS Chicago. Officials had not provided additional details early Monday as the probe moved forward.
