Police: Man beat pregnant girlfriend, led police on chase that caused 4-vehicle crash

A Zion man is in custody after authorities said he attacked his pregnant girlfriend and then led police on a high-speed chase that resulted in a four-vehicle crash near Gurnee.

According to the Lake County sheriff’s office, deputies were dispatched to a home on the 18500 block of West Old Gages Lake Road near Grayslake for a report of domestic battery at about 5 p.m.

A woman at the home told deputies that 22-year-old Felix James Jr. had attacked her and her 19-year-old pregnant daughter. The woman said James was her daughter’s boyfriend and that he had driven away with her daughter in a Chevrolet HHR before they arrived.

Soon after, authorities received reports of a woman being beaten inside a car near Hunt Club Road and Route 120. A sheriff’s deputy spotted the vehicle and initiated the pursuit, but James sped away.

Authorities said the pursuit was continued “due to the need to rescue James’ victim from additional harm.”

The pursuit ultimately ended when James ran a red light at Route 21 and Washington Street in Gurnee and was struck by a westbound Chevrolet Silverado. The impact caused James’ vehicle to careen into a Honda Odyssey, which in turn struck a Subaru Outback.

The woman in James’ vehicle was transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries she sustained in the beating and to evaluate her unborn child. Their conditions are unknown.

The drivers of the Honda and Silverado were also transported to hospitals for injuries sustained in the crash. The driver of the Subaru was uninjured.

James was also transported with minor injuries and released. He is now being held at the Lake County jail awaiting a detention hearing.

He is charged with aggravated battery to a pregnant woman, aggravated fleeing and eluding, two counts of domestic battery and numerous traffic violations.