MORGAN PARK — A fleeing thief attempted to hitch a ride on a semitruck on Interstate 57 around 8:30 a.m. Thursday and ended up falling beneath the rear wheels, according to State Police.
Officer Jose Estrada, a spokesman for the Chicago Police Department, said police were called to a store near 119th Street and I-57 with a report of a man suspected of retail theft.
A brief foot chase occurred, and the suspected thief ran onto the interstate near the 119th Street ramp. Estrada said.
Suspect fleeing police runs into traffic on I-57, is struck by a semi: https://t.co/xKrQ2bi2dF pic.twitter.com/wTnmJQxDOJ
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) August 25, 2016
The suspect entered the right lane of traffic and unsuccessfully attempted to stop a passing car. The suspect then hopped on the slower-moving truck, a State Police spokesman said.
The truck began to come to a stop, and the suspect briefly hopped off the truck. The suspect then jumped back onto the truck near the rear of the vehicle and fell under the back tires, the spokesman said.
The expressway was temporarily shut down during the incident, and the suspect was taken to Advocate Christ Hospital in suburban Oak Lawn in serious condition. His injuries are believed to be non-life- threatening, police said.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, Estrada said.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
