Driver Dies From Gunshot Wound After Fleeing Morris Police Along Interstate 80: State Police

MINOOKA, IL — Illinois State Police confirmed for Joliet Patch that a motorist died on Monday night, fatally shooting himself after fleeing from a nearby police agency in pursuit along Interstate 80.

According to Trooper Jayme Bufford, an Illinois State Police public information spokesperson, the Morris Police Department requested the Illinois State Police investigate an incident that occurred at approximately 8:58 p.m.

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Buford said that Morris police officers were involved in a pursuit with a vehicle on I-80 eastbound at milepost 123 in Minooka. The driver sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound, which ended the pursuit. The driver was airlifted to a regional hospital and pronounced dead.

"This is an open and ongoing investigation, and no further information is available," Bufford remarked.

Earlier, at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Morris Police Chief Alicia Steffes issued a press release on behalf of her department, but her press release did not to mention that there was a shooting or that the motorist had died.

Her statement indicated that at 8:45 p.m., Morris officers tried to make a traffic stop on Twilight Drive in Morris, and the vehicle stopped briefly as the passenger got out and the driver sped off. The passenger relayed that the driver fled the scene with a gun and the passenger was afraid for his safety.

Several minutes later, Morris police spotted the car going eastbound on Gore Road and the vehicle sped away and went eastbound along Interstate 80. According to the chief's account, Morris officers and other neighboring departments pursued the car on I-80, and stop sticks were deployed. The fleeing motorist crashed into the concrete barrier median.

"The driver was transported to an area hospital; the driver's current condition is unknown. The Illinois State Police are investigating the incident," Chief Steffes ended her press release statement.

Later, state police confirmed that the driver had died.