A black Lexus had already drawn a growing line of police vehicles behind it when one of its wheels finally gave up.
The tire came off near Mannheim Road during a chase through Chicago’s western suburbs on Wednesday afternoon. The Lexus did not stop. Video from NBC Chicago’s Sky 5 helicopter showed the sedan continuing down the road on three wheels as police followed.
By the time the chase reached a residential area in Westchester, the damaged car had traveled along Interstate 290 and multiple local roads. The driver finally stopped near Canterbury Street and Boeger Avenue, stepped out and was taken into custody.
Police later identified him as 21-year-old Vincent Kehoe of Berkeley. What began as an attempted traffic stop ended with two new felony charges — and police said Kehoe was already on pretrial release in another fleeing-and-eluding case.
Still Rolling
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Berkeley police attempted to stop the Lexus at about 4:30 p.m. after officers saw multiple traffic violations, according to a department release obtained by NBC Chicago.
The vehicle was also wanted for fleeing and eluding police in DuPage County.
The driver did not stop. Police said the pursuit moved onto I-290 and continued across multiple area roadways as officers from several agencies joined the pursuit.
From the helicopter, the Lexus could be seen moving through traffic with squad cars trailing it. Police eventually deployed a tire-deflation device.
That did not end the pursuit.
The Lexus continued until a wheel came off near Mannheim Road, leaving the car riding on three wheels. Even then, the driver kept going.
One Wheel Down
The loss of the wheel changed the chase’s appearance more than its direction.
Sky 5 footage showed the disabled corner of the Lexus riding low as the driver continued through the western suburbs. At several points, the sedan remained surrounded by ordinary traffic while police vehicles followed behind.
The pursuit eventually left the expressway and reached Westchester.
Near Canterbury Street and Boeger Avenue, the Lexus stopped on a residential street. Police described what followed as a high-risk traffic stop.
Kehoe got out of the vehicle and was immediately taken into custody.
Another Case
Berkeley police charged Kehoe with two counts of felony aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer and issued multiple traffic citations stemming from Wednesday’s pursuit.
Under the Illinois Vehicle Code, aggravated fleeing can apply when a driver who refuses a police signal to stop meets at least one additional condition, including traveling at least 21 mph over the speed limit, causing qualifying injury or property damage, disobeying two or more traffic-control devices, or concealing or altering a registration plate.
The specific conduct underlying each of Kehoe’s two felony counts was not detailed in the material reviewed by Guessing Headlights.
NBC Chicago reported that Kehoe was already on pretrial release in connection with a previous fleeing-and-eluding incident in Cook County when Wednesday’s chase occurred.
Police also said the Lexus involved in the new pursuit had been wanted in connection with a separate fleeing-and-eluding incident in DuPage County.
Available reporting did not establish Kehoe’s current detention status or the next scheduled court date.