Officials: Man fleeing police dies after Lake-Cook Road crash
A 23-year-old Chicago man who fled Buffalo Grove police after a reported domestic disturbance Saturday morning died from injuries he suffered in a three-car crash that closed a portion of Lake-Cook Road just east of Route 53 for much of the day, officials said.
The two other drivers were hospitalized, but their injuries are not considered life-threatening, police said.
The Cook County medical examiner's office identified the Chicago man Sunday as Telvin Burnett of the 0-100 block of South Kedzie Avenue.
According to Buffalo Grove police, the fatal crash followed a domestic disturbance between Burnett and a former girlfriend at her mother's house on Auburn Lane. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots and breaking glass about 10:20 a.m. coming from the house. Shortly after hearing the disturbance, witnesses saw the man leave the house and drive off in a red sedan.
A Buffalo Grove police officer saw a red Toyota Corolla driving south on Arlington Heights Road, approaching Lake-Cook Road. The officer turned on his lights and siren as the vehicle drove west on Lake-Cook Road, and began to follow with the intention of pulling over the car, but never got the chance, Buffalo Grove Police Deputy Chief Michael Szos said.
The officer was about a football field away from the Toyota when it crossed the Wilke Road intersection and the gruesome crash happened. The officer didn't see the crash, Szos said.
Cook County Sheriff's police are investigating what caused the crash.
The three crash victims were taken to nearby hospitals. Burnett died at 1:48 p.m. at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. One surviving driver also was taken to Northwest Community and the third driver was taken to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Lake Barrington.
The damage done to the three vehicles involved was severe. The Toyota was so badly smashed it looked like it had been crunched in half, according to a report from the scene.
The crash closed eastbound and westbound Lake-Cook Road between Hicks and Arlington Heights roads for much of the day. It reopened at 4:26 p.m., officials said.
Szos said the dead man was in an on-again off-again relationship with a woman who lived at the Auburn Lane house. He said witnesses told police he was in the backyard, arguing with his former girlfriend and her mother who were inside.
He then smashed through the glass patio door to get inside, Szos said. The women told police he didn't harm them once he got inside and that they don't believe he was armed with a gun. The women were close enough to the glass door that they were cut by the broken glass, but their injuries were minor and they refused medical help, police said.
Shortly after breaking in, the 23-year-old man ran out and left in the Toyota, Szos said.
Buffalo Grove Police don't have any evidence he fired any shots during the disturbance or that he had a gun, Szos said.