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Police said at about 4:40 p.m. a Chicago Fire Department ambulance was parked in the 200-block of West Cermak. Police said it was stolen by an unknown offender while it was parked on the street.
The thief fled southbound onto the Stevenson Expressway, with police in pursuit, and eventually onto I-55 heading south into the southwest suburbs.
Shortly before 6:20 p.m. the ambulance slowed nearly to a stop and the driver appeared to be gesturing to and speaking with police out the window, before suddenly taking off again.
The ambulance’s back wheels, which now appear to be entirely stripped off rubber, have also started to smoke.
Police have not offered any further details about the circumstances of the theft. It was not known if there were any injuries to CFD personnel or to civilians. Officials said no one was in the ambulance when it was stolen.
By 6:30 p.m. the ambulance had made it about 70 miles southwest of the city, near Dwight, where the driver slowed to a stop and got out. And while it looked like he was going to surrender, he instead fled on foot.
He was chased down police and K-9 units and then into custody on the side of the highway near the Streator-Kankakee exit. Traffic is stopped in both directions on I-55.
This is a breaking news story. Check back with ABC7 Chicago for updates.
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Source: ABC7
