A police officer was transported to the hospital after a DUI driver crashed into a police squad that was blocking the scene of a fatal pedestrian-involved crash in Waukegan Friday.
The Waukegan Police Department and Waukegan Fire Department responded around 10 p.m. Friday to the area of Dave’s Liquors, 2300 Grand Avenue in Waukegan.
911 callers reported a vehicle had struck a pedestrian near the business, according to fire department radio traffic.
The bystanders reported the victim was not responsive and not breathing.
A medical helicopter was requested to be put on standby but later canceled.
Lifesaving measures were performed but were unsuccessful, according to a police report.
Paramedics rushed the victim to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan where they were pronounced dead.
The report said the vehicle was traveling westbound on Grand Avenue and struck the pedestrian as they were crossing the roadway.
The Waukegan Police Department Major Crash Unit responded to the scene to begin investigating.
Grand Avenue was shut down between Leith Avenue and Berwick Boulevard for several hours during the investigation.
Officers were still on the scene around 2 a.m. Saturday investigating and an officer was blocking the scene with their squad car, flares and cones.
An intoxicated driver was traveling eastbound on Grand Avenue when it struck the squad car near Leith Avenue, according to a police report.
The officer was entering their squad car when the crash occurred. The officer suffered an injury and was transported to the hospital.
The driver of the car was charged with driving under the influence, the report said.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office has not yet released the identity of the victim in the first crash.
The cause of that crash still remains under investigation by the Waukegan Police Department.