A truck was stolen from Zion and crashed on Interstate 94 near Wadsworth, with the two masked suspects fleeing on foot, prompting a police search that ended in arrests Monday morning.
The Illinois State Police (ISP) responded around 10 a.m. Monday to the area of Interstate 94 at the split to Route 41 in Wadsworth for a hit-and-run vehicle crash.
An ISP spokesperson told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that a two-vehicle crash occurred on southbound Route 41 underneath Interstate 94.
Troopers learned a stolen white 2018 Ford F-150 pickup truck was traveling in the third lane from the left.
It crossed over to the far left lane and struck a black 2023 Chevrolet Malibu, the ISP spokesperson said. A light pole was reportedly struck by the Ford and fell down.
The occupants of the Ford fled the scene on foot. No injuries were reported to the occupants of the Chevrolet.
A witness reported that the two suspects were masked and carrying bags while fleeing.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist the state police in the incident.
Information relayed to the Sheriff’s 911 Emergency Telecommunications Center indicated two people fled on foot from the crash, Covelli said.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and established a perimeter around Pine Dunes Forest Preserve, 42909 Hunt Club Road in unincorporated Antioch, which is just west of the crash location.
Drones were deployed and a sheriff’s office canine team began a track.
Covelli said the drones and canine unit likely flushed the two suspects out of the woods into an awaiting vehicle.
An alert sheriff’s deputy stationed on the perimeter saw it occurring and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle that the suspects got into.
Both suspects were arrested and turned over to the Illinois State Police and the Zion Police Department, Covelli said.
It was determined that the driver of the vehicle was a rideshare driver and had no involvement in the crime.
Zion Police Department Detective Lt. Paul Kehrli said the Ford F-150 was reported stolen out of the 2200 block of Elizabeth Avenue in Zion around 6:43 a.m. Monday.
Kehrli said the two suspects were turned over to the Zion Police Department and identified as juveniles from Zion.
The two had ties to the area where the Ford was stolen.
Detectives are working with the Illinois State Police and several charges are pending further investigation.
Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to call the Zion Police Department at 847-872-8000 or Lake County Crime Stoppers at 847-662-2222.