Police: Driver killed while fleeing traffic stop in Round Lake Beach

A 39-year-old man was killed Saturday night after the vehicle he was driving slammed into a traffic light pole as he fled from police in Round Lake Beach, authorities said.

The man was pronounced dead at a hospital where he was taken after the crash, which occurred about 8:44 p.m. at Route 83 and Rollins Road, police said. His identity has not been released.

According to police, the driver had fled from a Round Lake Beach officer who attempted to make a traffic stop a few minutes earlier on Cedar Lake Road, just south of Rollins Road.

The officer ended the traffic stop attempt on Rollins Road, approximately five blocks east of Cedar Lake Road, and lost sight of the vehicle, police said. The crash occurred about a mile down the road from there, according to police.

The crash is being investigated by the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team, along with the Lake County coroner’s office, authorities said.

Route 83 and Rollins Road was partially closed for nearly four hours after the crash while police investigated the scene. The roadway was cleared at approximately 12:30 a.m., police said.

A release of the driver’s identity is expected after an autopsy by the coroner’s office.