A 17-year-old boy is facing multiple charges after he allegedly fled at over 135 mph from sheriff’s deputies near Gurnee and then crashed the car and claimed he was carjacked.
A Lake County sheriff’s deputy early Saturday morning attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a reckless vehicle near Route 120 and River Road in unincorporated Gurnee.
The driver fled at a speed over 135 mph, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
The deputy discontinued the pursuit due to the risk to innocent drivers in the area.
The deputy located the vehicle, an Infiniti sedan, moments later after it had crashed near Route 120 and Route 41.
There were no occupants in the vehicle and the driver had fled on foot, Covelli said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office was called approximately an hour later, around 2 a.m. Saturday, to the 13700 block of West Wadsworth Road in Wadsworth for a report of a robbery victim in need of assistance.
The 911 call was made by a resident, who was an off-duty police officer, that observed someone with injuries, Covelli said.
Deputies spoke with the person, a 17-year-old Round Lake boy, who claimed he was robbed and carjacked.
He did not want the police or paramedics called and only wanted to call home for a ride, Covelli said.
The teen’s story changed numerous times and a further investigation revealed he was the one driving the Infiniti that had crashed, Covelli said, adding that the boy was not robbed or carjacked.
He was evaluated by paramedics but he and his guardian, who arrived on the scene, declined treatment.
The teen was charged with fleeing to elude, reckless driving and aggravated speeding. Additional charges are possible.