Two suspects and another person were injured Wednesday after a stolen vehicle crashed into a cement truck, according to the Portage Police Department.
At around 11:00 a.m. an officer with the Portage Police Department was on routine patrol in the city’s northwest side when he received notification from the Flock Safety license plate reader system that a stolen 2020 Hyundai Elantra bearing Illinois license plates was in the area. The officer was able to locate the vehicle on County Line Road near Oak Avenue. When the officer attempted to make a traffic stop, the driver of the stolen vehicle initiated a pursuit. The pursuit turned westbound onto U.S. Highway 12 and continued until reaching the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 (Melton Road). At that point, the suspect vehicle began traveling back eastbound along Highway 20.
Responding Portage Police Officers set up stop-sticks just east of State Road 249 in an attempt to bring the pursuit to an end but as the suspect vehicle neared the intersection it suddenly crossed into oncoming traffic and struck the midsection of a cement truck that had stopped on the north shoulder facing west. The driver of the cement truck, a 43-year-old male, indicated that he observed the approaching lights of the police vehicle and had pulled to the shoulder and come to a complete stop before the collision. The cement truck driver reported minor bruising and did not require EMS transport for his injury.
Officers discovered that the stolen Hyundai was occupied two times, and each occupant was taken into custody. Police said on Wednesday that neither suspect had been positively identified but it is believed that both were juveniles. Each suspect sustained life-threatening injuries during the collision and were transported to separate area trauma centers via helicopter. One suspect was flown directly from the scene and the other a short time later from a local hospital.
Upon being removed from the vehicle, each suspect was found to have a loaded semi-automatic pistol in their waistband and marijuana was recovered from inside the passenger compartment. The Hyundai had been reported stolen through the Chicago Police Department on March 26 and evidence from a separate carjacking occurring later that same day in Chicago was also recovered from inside the vehicle.
The driver faces possible charges of fleeing law enforcement in a motor vehicle, unlawful carrying of a handgun, possession of a stolen vehicle, reckless driving, and possession of marijuana. The passenger faces possible charges of unlawful carrying of a handgun, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, and possession of marijuana.