Dixon, Illinois – A stolen vehicle fled officers and crashed in Lee County Wednesday night.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Rock Falls police notified dispatchers around 7:43 p.m. that a stolen vehicle equipped with a Flock License Plate Reader alert was traveling east on Rock Island Road. A Lee County deputy reportedly spotted the vehicle on Bloody Gulch Road near Rock Island Road.
Authorities said the deputy began following the vehicle but did not activate emergency lights due to the suspect vehicle’s speed and its approach toward the intersection of Pump Factory Road, described as a known dangerous intersection. The stolen vehicle allegedly disregarded a stop sign at Pump Factory Road and continued east.
A Dixon police officer responding to assist reportedly observed the vehicle fail to stop at the intersection and activated emergency lights. The pursuit continued briefly before the Dixon officer lost sight of the vehicle as it entered Dixon city limits. The Lee County deputy terminated the pursuit and cleared from the area near the Fairfield Hotel on Bloody Gulch Road.
Shortly afterward, dispatch received a 911 call reporting a crash on Bloody Gulch Road near U.S. Route 52. Officers and deputies located the stolen vehicle crashed and unoccupied. Authorities said the suspect allegedly fled the scene on foot.
A search involving Lee County K-9 Dax and a thermal drone from the Dixon City Fire Department did not locate the suspect. Illinois State Police also assisted.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at (815) 284-6631, Rock Falls Police at (815) 622-1140, or area Crime Stoppers.
The crash temporarily impacted evening traffic along Bloody Gulch Road, a corridor frequently used by local commuters and students.
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