Crews clean up Thursday after a stolen vehicle crashed into a police car and the Grand Tequila Bar & Grill, 1334 Grand Avenue in Waukegan. | Photo: Joe Shuman/J. Shuman Photography (2022)

A woman driving a stolen vehicle was killed after she hit a police car and drove into a building in Waukegan Thursday morning, police say.

Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Joe Florip said a Waukegan police officer driving a fully marked patrol car was traveling westbound on Grand Avenue at Butrick Street in Waukegan at around 5 a.m. Thursday.

A silver 2012 Chevrolet Cobalt was traveling eastbound on Grand Avenue and hit the police car.

Florip said the officer was not responding to a call.

The Waukegan Police Department Major Crash Unit was activated to investigate, Florip said.

Investigators believe the Chevrolet crossed the center line on Grand Avenue and struck the police car in the rear driver-side corner panel.

The Chevrolet continued eastbound and drove into the Grand Tequila Bar & Grill located at 1334 Grand Avenue.

The driver, identified as a middle-aged woman, was pronounced dead at the scene, Florip said.

[Suggested Article]  Coroner identifies man, woman in their 20s who died following shooting in Waukegan

The police car, a 2015 Ford Police Interceptor Utility, remained driveable after the crash.

Crews clean up Thursday after a stolen vehicle crashed into a police car and the Grand Tequila Bar & Grill, 1334 Grand Avenue in Waukegan. | Photo: Joe Shuman/J. Shuman Photography (2022)

Investigators believe the speed and improper lane usage of the Chevrolet were the main factors in the crash.

The woman was not wearing her seatbelt, investigators believe.

Florip said the Chevrolet was reported stolen on Tuesday at 8 a.m. from the 400 block of Franklin Street in Waukegan.

The Chevrolet was left running and unoccupied when it was stolen.

Police had no suspect information at the time, Florip said.

Paramedics transported the officer involved in the crash to an area hospital for a checkup.

The officer had no visible injuries, Florip added.

An autopsy by the Lake County Coroner’s Office is scheduled for later this week.