Kaniyah A. Williams, 25, of Chicago (left inset) and Jariah Terrell, 24, of Chicago (right inset) have been charged after they allegedly committed a retail theft in Vernon Hills and fled from police, causing a three-vehicle crash at Route 60 and St. Mary’s Road in Mettawa on March 6, 2023. | Photo Submitted to Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Additional charges have been filed against a driver who prosecutors say committed a retail theft and fled from police in Vernon Hills before crashing, leaving a suspect impaled by a fence in Mettawa.

The Vernon Hills Police Department was called to Ulta Beauty, 700 North Milwaukee Avenue in Vernon Hills,  on March 6 for a call of a retail theft in progress.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said the suspects were identified as Jariah Terrell, 24, of Chicago; Kaniyah A. Williams, 25, of Chicago, and a third woman.

The three swept items, worth over $5,000, off the shelves into bags before fleeing the store in a gray 2018 Kia Optima, Katris said.

Officers spotted the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed.

Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop but Terrell, who was the driver, did not stop the car.

The Kia ran a red light at Route 60 and Hawthorn Hills Square and officers terminated the chase, Katris said.

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Officers observed the vehicle run another red light at Route 60 and Milwaukee Avenue and the vehicle continued eastbound.

It crashed a short time later, around 3:45 p.m., nearby at Route 60 and St. Mary’s Road in Mettawa.

A Kia sedan ran a red light while fleeing from a theft in Vernon Hills and caused a three-vehicle crash at Route 60 and St. Mary’s Road in Mettawa on March 6, 2023. | Photo: Max Weingardt

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said the Kia approached St. Mary’s Road and ran the red light, striking a southbound 2012 GMC Sierra.

The Kia left the roadway on the southeast corner of the intersection and drove into a wooden fence.

After the Kia struck the GMC, the GMC struck a 2016 Toyota 4-Runner, which was facing northbound to turn left onto westbound Route 60.

Vernon Hills police officers arrived on the scene and Terrell disobeyed commands to exit the vehicle and tried pressing the gas pedal, Katris said.

Katris said she refused multiple times to get out of the car and the officer cut his hand trying to get her out of the vehicle.

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Terrell and Williams, who was in the backseat, both suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash.

The third retail theft suspect, a female, who was the front seat passenger of the Kia, was impaled by a wooden fence post.

A Kia sedan ran a red light while fleeing from a theft in Vernon Hills and caused a three-vehicle crash at Route 60 and St. Mary’s Road in Mettawa on March 6, 2023. | Photo: Max Weingardt

Officers performed first aid and used an automated external defibrillator on the woman, who was unresponsive.

Paramedics transported her to Advocate Condell Medical Center with critical, life-threatening injuries, Covelli said.

The driver of the GMC, a 34-year-old Round Lake Beach man, was transported to Lake Forest Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the Toyota, a 60-year-old man from Watervliet, Michigan, and his passenger, a 23-year-old Riverwoods man, were uninjured.

All three suspects have prior convictions for thefts, Katris said.

Terrell was initially charged with aggravated fleeing to elude, retail theft and theft.

Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak read off lengthy criminal histories for both Terrell and Williams during a bond hearing in March at the time of their arrests.

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Potkonjak ordered both of them held on a $350,000 bond, meaning they would each need to post $35,000 cash to be released.

Police announced on Wednesday that Terrell has been additionally charged with driving under the influence of drugs, driving with an intoxicating compound in body, prohibited amount of cannabis concentration in blood within two hours of driving and obstructing identification.

Court records show Terrell and Williams have been additionally charged in a retail theft in Gurnee. Terrell is also facing charges for a Mundelein retail theft.

Terrell is being held on a $400,000 bond. Terrell and Williams remain held in the Lake County Jail.