A late-night joyride ended in tragedy early Monday morning on Chicago’s Southwest Side.
One teenage girl is dead and three other minors are injured after a stolen Toyota Corolla slammed into a tree.
Chicago Police officers first spotted the vehicle speeding without headlights around 3:50 a.m.
The car was traveling near the Marquette Park neighborhood when officers attempted to intervene.
Police turned on their emergency lights and sirens to follow the suspicious vehicle.
The driver of the Toyota reportedly refused to stop and sped away from the officers.
Before police could catch up to the car, the driver lost control in the 6900-block of South Kedzie Avenue.
The vehicle veered off the road and struck a tree with high force.
Emergency responders arrived to find four teenagers trapped or injured inside the wreckage.
A girl, estimated to be between 15 and 17 years old, was rushed to Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition.
Doctors later pronounced the young girl dead at the hospital.
A 16-year-old girl is also fighting for her life at Comer Children’s with a serious head injury.
A 15-year-old girl was taken to the same facility and is currently listed in good condition.
The fourth passenger, a 16-year-old boy, was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital in fair condition.
Authorities later confirmed that the Toyota Corolla had been reported stolen prior to the crash.
The Chicago Police Major Accidents Investigation Unit is currently leading the investigation.
Recent History
This fatal incident highlights a growing concern regarding teen-involved auto thefts in the Marquette Park area.
The 6900-block of South Kedzie is a busy stretch of road that has seen several high-speed collisions over the last year.
Marquette Park residents have frequently reported issues with “stolen car joyriding” during the late-night hours.
According to recent CPD data, the Southwest Side has seen a spike in vehicle thefts involving Kias and Toyotas.
Similar crashes occurred just months ago in nearby Gage Park, where underage drivers lost control of stolen vehicles.
Community leaders are now calling for more programs to keep local youth off the streets during overnight hours.
This crash serves as a grim reminder of the dangers associated with high-speed driving in residential zones.
The investigation remains open as police work to determine who was behind the wheel at the time of the impact.
