A Nissan Maxima sedan allegedly fled from an officer who attempted to pull it over on Route 41 before it crashed into a tree and the occupants fled on foot on Grove Avenue just east of Delany Road in Gurnee early Sunday morning. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

A car fled from officers on Route 41 in Gurnee before crashing into a tree and its four occupants running away early Sunday morning, only for three of them to be tracked down and the fourth later turning himself in.

A Gurnee police officer observed a car committing multiple traffic violations as it traveled northbound on Route 41 in Gurnee at around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor said.

The officer turned on their emergency lights and tried to pull over the vehicle, a Nissan Maxima sedan, but it attempted to flee.

“Due to safety concerns, the officer discontinued efforts to stop the vehicle,” Gaylor said.

A Gurnee police officer maintains a perimeter as other officers and K-9s search for four occupants who fled from a crash after an attempted traffic stop in Gurnee early Sunday morning. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Moments later, the officer found the Nissan had crashed into a tree on Grove Avenue just east of Delany Road.

“As the officer approached the vehicle, four occupants fled on foot,” Gaylor said.

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Numerous Gurnee police officers and Lake County sheriff’s deputies responded and established a perimeter.

The Gurnee Fire Department also responded and stood by while police searched for the occupants.

Several Gurnee police officers, Lake County sheriff’s deputies and K-9s search for four occupants who fled from a crash after an attempted traffic stop in Gurnee early Sunday morning. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

One of the occupants was taken into custody shortly after the crash.

Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Sinceno and K-9 Simba responded and began conducting a track near the woodline that runs parallel to Grove Avenue and Morrison Drive.

Police were eventually able to locate two of the other occupants.

One of them was hiding inside a garbage can behind 1401 North Delany Road.

Police officers and firefighter/paramedics speak to one of the occupants who fled from a crash after an attempted traffic stop in Gurnee early Sunday morning. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Police were not able to immediately locate the alleged driver, identified as Ruben Ruiz, 27, of Zion.

“One of the occupants was released without charges,” Gaylor said. “A second occupant was transported to a local hospital for medical care.”

The third occupant – identified by police as Aaron Swanson, 29, of Waukegan – was cited for obstructing justice and was released.

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One of four occupants who fled from a crash after an attempted traffic stop was found hiding in a garbage can behind 1401 North Delany Road in Gurnee early Sunday morning. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Ruiz later turned himself in to the Gurnee Police Department and received a slew of traffic citations and misdemeanors, including fleeing and eluding police, resisting a peace officer, leaving the scene of a crash and reckless driving.

Ruiz is scheduled to appear at the Lake County Courthouse for an arraignment on August 14.