On July 20, 2026, at 11:11 a.m., members of the Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force observed a Kia Rio that had been reported stolen earlier in the morning from the 3100 block of Nantucket Drive near the 1800 block of Glenwood Avenue.

Officers followed the vehicle into the parking lot of Joliet West High School and additional officers arrived to assist.

When officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the Kia, the driver immediately accelerated at a high rate of speed away from the officers, and the officers discontinued the attempted stop.

The Kia continued northbound on Larkin Avenue from Glenwood Avenue in a reckless manner.Moments later, the Kia is believed to have disregarded a red traffic signal at the intersection of Black Road and North Larkin Avenue, where it struck a Jeep Wrangler driven by a 67-year-old Joliet man who was turning southbound onto Larkin Avenue from westbound Black Road on a green left-turn arrow.

The force of the collision caused the Jeep to spin and roll onto its roof.

After the initial impact, the Kia continued into the westbound lanes of Black Road east of the intersection, where it struck a Subaru Forester driven by an 80-year-old Glenview man that was stopped in the left-turn lane. The Kia then struck a GMC Sierra driven by a 74-year-old Joliet man that was stopped at the intersection awaiting a green traffic signal.

The driver of the Kia, a 16-year-old male, sustained minor injuries and was transported by the Joliet Fire Department to Saint Joseph Medical Center. A juvenile female passenger of the Kia sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to Saint Joseph Medical Center before being transferred to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove for further medical treatment. A second juvenile female passenger of the Kia sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by the Joliet Fire Department to Saint Joseph Medical Center.

The driver of the Jeep sustained serious, non-life-threatening injuries and had to be extricated from the vehicle by the Joliet Fire Department. He was transported to Saint Joseph Medical Center. The occupants of the Subaru and GMC were not injured.

The intersection remained closed for several hours while members of the Joliet Police Department Traffic Unit conducted a comprehensive crash reconstruction.

Following his release from the hospital, the 16-year-old driver was transported to the JolietPolice Department and charged with Aggravated Fleeing/Attempting to Elude a Peace Officer. He was processed at the Joliet Police Department and subsequently transferred to the River Valley Justice Center.

The crash remains under investigation by the Joliet Police Department Traffic Unit. Theinvestigation into the circumstances of the stolen vehicle is being conducted by the Tri-CountyAuto Theft Task Force. Additional charges may be pending. Anyone with information or video footage related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Joliet Police Department Traffic Unitat 815-724-3010