Fleeing Teens Crash Into Niles Cops, Send One To Hospital: Police

NILES, IL — Two 16-year-old boys are in custody and a Niles police officer was sent to the hospital after an SUV fleeing Chicago cops caused a chain reaction crash at the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Oakton Street early Saturday, police said. Chicago police said they tried to pull over a Ford Explorer about 12:07 a.m. after seeing it speeding north, moments after a call of shots fired nearby.

Police said they saw someone toss an objected from the driver's side of the vehicle and thought it was a weapon, and turned on their lights and sirens.

The driver fled, leading Chicago officers on a five-minute, two-mile chase that ended as he tried to turn right onto Oakton Street and lost control, according to Chicago and Niles police.

Two Niles Police Department cars, one marked and one unmarked, were stopped at the light in the westbound lanes of Oakton. As the Ford Explorer turned east, it crashed into the marked squad car.

Niles Police Cmdr. Robert Tornabene said the officer who was struck by the SUV was pinned inside his car until he was extricated by the Niles Fire Department. He was taken to Lutheran General hospital in stable condition and later released.

The impact of the crash sent the squad car into the unmarked car, which was stopped at the light at Oakton and Milwaukee. The unmarked Niles police vehicle, in turn, struck another vehicle parked directly behind it. No other injuries were reported among the other drivers.

Niles police ticketed the driver, a Chicago resident, for speeding 70 mph in a 35 mph zone, improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash, no valid insurance and damage to village property. Chicago police said charges are pending against the two teens, who were taken to the Jefferson Park station.