Woman accused in carjacking, 6 hit-and-run crashes in Gurnee

Gurnee police say charges have been filed against a woman accused in a carjacking, and of causing six hit-and-run crashes Thursday afternoon.

Tiffany R. Thomas, 33, of North Chicago, was charged with vehicular hijacking, two counts of attempted vehicular hijacking, unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle, two counts of aggravated battery, felony theft, reckless driving, six counts of leaving the scene of an accident, driving with a suspended license and no insurance.

Police on Friday gave the following account of what happened:

Officers responded to the area of Route 132 and Juniper Street for a reported hit-and-run traffic crash about 2:45 p.m. Thursday. During the next several minutes, five additional hit-and-run collisions were reported to have occurred in the vicinity.

Gurnee police found a gold GMC sport utility vehicle abandoned with a door open on Route 41 under the Washington Street overpass.

While investigating, several people approached officers and reported the SUV driver had approached them and tried to pull them from their vehicles.

Investigators learned Thomas had successfully entered the passenger side of a blue Toyota, which was last seen driving south from the scene.

Soon after, Park City police received a call from the Toyota owner who reported Thomas had ejected her from the car near routes 41 and 120.

North Chicago police located the Toyota in the 2100 block of Dickey Avenue in that city. The gold GMC was registered to the same Dickey address where the Toyota was found.

Authorities said Thomas was taken to a hospital by her family Thursday. Police said she was taken into custody after she was treated and released.