4 Injured After Cadillac Fleeing Police Blows Red Light, Hits Car: Authorities

JOLIET, IL — Four men were injured when a Cadillac that had been fleeing police blew a red light, striking a car, overnight in Joliet, authorities said.

An officer saw the Cadillac CTS around 2 a.m. Sunday, without headlights or taillights on, traveling south on Raynor Avenue and west on Black Road, according to the Joliet Police Department. The officer tried to stop the car, but its driver refused, accelerating away at a high rate of speed and in a reckless manner, police said.

The officer stopped the pursuit before Black Road and Midland Avenue due to safety concerns but saw the Cadillac disregard the red light at Black Road and Larkin Avenue, collide with a northbound Chevrolet Cruze, leave the road, hit a utility pole and overturn in a grassy area, according to police.

The driver of the Cadillac, a 21-year-old man from Joliet, suffered life-threatening injuries and was extricated, taken to St. Joseph Medical Center and then flown to Loyola University Medical Center, police said.

The driver of the Cruze, a 23-year-old Chicago man, and his two passengers, also men, all suffered injuries that were not life-threatening and were taken to St. Joseph Medical Center, according to police.

The road was closed for several hours following the crash, police said.