Suburban car convoy honors ‘Fast & Furious’ star Paul Walker

Prospect Heights police received assistance from Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect officers Saturday evening in taming an estimated 1,000-car road rally in tribute to the late “Fast & Furious” actor Paul Walker.

The House of Music & Entertainment (H.O.M.E.) at 1227 N. Rand Road had been selected as the starting point for the Chicago-bound rally, though police were not informed as early as participants.

“We knew nothing about it until 6 p.m.,” Prospect Heights police Cpl. Bill Suerth said. “The organizers chose the H.O.M.E. bar parking lot to meet around 6 p.m.”

By the time the first officers arrived, there were already about 150 cars assembled, Suerth said. But it gradually grew to several times that amount, spilling over into the nearby parking lots of Hersey High School and Target.

But with officers from the three departments working together, the rally got safely on its way at about 8:50 p.m. The cars took Rand Road to Palatine Road to Route 53 before heading south to Interstate 90 to possibly link up with other such groups in Chicago, Suerth said.

Apart from the sheer volume of traffic, there were only minor problems such as some vehicles squealing their tires, he said.