Joliet: 21-Year-Old Driver in Life-Threatening Condition After Police Chase Ends in Four-Car Crash at Black Road and Larkin Avenue
A 21-year-old Joliet man is in life-threatening condition after his Cadillac crashed into a Chevrolet at Black Road and Larkin Avenue while fleeing police. Three others in the Chevrolet were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
A red light. A collision. Four people in hospitals.
A Joliet police chase ended in a violent crash early Sunday morning that left one man in life-threatening condition and three others hospitalized. The collision happened at the intersection of Black Road and Larkin Avenue just before 2 a.m.
The pursuit
According to the Joliet Police Department, an officer observed a Cadillac CTS traveling southbound on Raynor Avenue without its headlights or taillights illuminated. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop after the vehicle turned westbound onto Black Road.
The driver of the Cadillac, a 21-year-old Joliet man, refused to stop and accelerated away at a high rate of speed. The officer discontinued the pursuit before reaching Black Road and Midland Avenue due to safety concerns, according to police.
The crash
The Cadillac continued westbound on Black Road at high speed. The officer and witnesses watched as the vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of Black Road and Larkin Avenue, according to the Joliet Police Department news release.
The Cadillac collided with a Chevrolet Cruze driven by a 23-year-old Chicago man who was traveling northbound on Larkin Avenue on a green light. The impact caused the Cadillac to leave the roadway, strike a utility pole, and overturn in a nearby grassy area.
The injuries
The driver of the Cadillac was extricated from the vehicle by the Joliet Fire Department and transported to Saint Joseph Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. He was later flown to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood for further treatment.
The 21-year-old was the sole occupant of the Cadillac, according to police.
The Chevrolet driver and two adult male passengers suffered non-life-threatening injuries. All three were transported to Saint Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department.
The investigation continues
Black Road remained closed for several hours while traffic investigators reconstructed the crash scene. The Joliet Police Department Traffic Unit is investigating the incident.
Anyone with video footage or information about the crash can contact the Joliet Police Department Traffic Unit at 815-724-3010.
- Time of crash: Just before 2 a.m., Sunday, June 28, 2026
- Location: Black Road and Larkin Avenue, Joliet
- Vehicles involved: Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Cruze
- Injuries: One life-threatening, three non-life-threatening
- Hospitals: Saint Joseph Medical Center (initial), Loyola University Medical Center (airlifted)
- Status: Under investigation by Joliet Police Department