A police chase that started in Indiana early Wednesday morning ended in Chicago after a U-Haul truck drove off the road and into the Little Calumet River in the city's Riverdale neighborhood, officials said.
At approximately 4:10 a.m., the Hammond Police Department received a "Blue Net" alert from the city's license plate reader system, indicating a stolen U-Haul vehicle was within city limits, a release from Hammond PD said.
Officers then began to patrol an area near 136th and Sheffield when they identified a vehicle matching the description, the release said. Officers attempted to "curb" the vehicle, and engaged their emergency lights and sirens. The driver of the U-Haul did not step and fled the scene, the release added.
A police pursuit ensued, with the U-Haul traveling at approximately 30 miles per hour. The U-Haul driver then traveled to 130th and Indiana in Chicago, where the driver went over the edge of the curb during a turn, landing in the Little Calumet River, police said.
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The driver quickly exited the U-Haul and attempted to evade capture by swimming away, police said. Hammond officers went into the water but were unable to locate the suspect.
According to Chicago officials, crews and a CFD helicopter were called to the scene at 4:22 a.m., police said. Crews worked to perform a recovery of the driver, a male, who was determined to be deceased. He was transported to a nearby hospital in serious to critical condition and later pronounced dead, police said.
A female passenger was initially present in the U-Haul at the start of the police pursuit but jumped from the vehicle during the chase, police said. She is currently being questioned by police.
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According to officials an investigation is ongoing.
This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
