3 McHenry Co. Teens Killed After Fleeing Vehicle Crashes Into Train Car: Police

CHICAGO , IL — Four people from the Northwest suburbs who died early Sunday morning after a vehicle fleeing authorities drove off a bridge and struck a train car have been identified.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office identified them as: Yuaren Garcia-Pena, 18, of Woodstock; Yaritza Martinez-Villeda, 17, of Crystal Lake; Cristofer Lopez-Montan, 19, of Woodstock; and Vanessa Morales, 14, of Palatine.

The collision happened at around 2:15 a.m. in the 6900 block of South Cicero Avenue, just blocks from Chicago Midway International Airport. Two males and a female who had been inside the vehicle died at the scene, while a second female was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in critical condition, according to police.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Monday morning that four people had died in connection with the collision.

Chicago responded to the incident after receiving a call about a person who had pointed a gun at a victim while in a vehicle, police said. Authorities found a vehicle matching the description from the report and attempted a traffic stop, before initiating a pursuit when the driver did not stop and then quickly terminating the chase, according to police.

Illinois State Police saw the same vehicle and also tried to stop it in the 5500 block of South Cicero Avenue, where the driver stopped but then fled again, authorities said, adding Chicago police responded to assist.

As the vehicle sped away, it left the road and hit a train boxcar in the 6900 block of South Cicero Avenue, according to police, which includes a bridge above a series of train tracks. WLS and WGN both published CapturedNews footage of a damaged red pickup truck at the scene.

The Chicago Police Department Investigative Response Team is handling the investigation, and autopsies are being scheduled with the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, police said.