Lake County, IL – A driver fleeing from police was killed, and multiple others were injured in a high-speed crash in Newport Township on Thursday.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a collision at Route 173 and Kilbourne Road around 4:30 p.m. Two heavily damaged vehicles were found at the scene. A preliminary investigation revealed that a 32-year-old Salem, Wisconsin man was driving a stolen Lexus GS400 and fled from Pleasant Prairie Police, who had attempted to stop him.
Police deployed a tire deflation device near Kilbourne and Russell Roads, partially disabling the Lexus. Despite this, the driver continued fleeing at high speed. The pursuit was called off near Kilbourne and Hickory Roads. The driver ran a red light at Kilbourne Road and Route 173, colliding with a GMC Yukon.
The Lexus driver, the sole occupant, was killed. The Yukon’s front seat passenger, a 51-year-old Waukegan resident, sustained critical injuries. The driver, a 30-year-old Waukegan man, and several passengers, including minors, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. All were transported to local hospitals.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office is scheduling an autopsy for the Lexus driver, whose name is withheld pending next of kin notification. He had a revoked driver’s license, an active arrest warrant for methamphetamine possession, and was suspected in multiple burglaries.
