PEORIA, Ill. — A police chase Wednesday led to two suspects jumping into the Illinois River.
The incident involved multiple jurisdictions from the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, and the Peoria Police Department.
Trooper Haylie Polisitina with the Illinois State Police said a crash involving a stolen vehicle occurred Wednesday just before 8:00 a.m. in the area of 116 and Grosenbach.
“It was called out as a three vehicle crash. A driver just blew through the intersection, he was going on Grosenbach westbound and struck two vehicles, launching one vehicle into the corn field,” Polistina said.
The drivers of the two vehicles struck were taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
“They are stable,” Polistina said.
The vehicle causing the accident was a stolen white pickup truck.
Peoria Public Information Officer Amy Dotson said the two males bailed from the stolen vehicle and took off on foot westbound.
“Tazewell County Deputies requested assistance from Peoria Police K-9 officers,” Dotson said.
The suspects were spotted on the McClugage Bridge heading westbound on foot towards Peoria.
“A foot chance ensued, the two males then jumped over the bridge. One male landed in the water, one male clung to a pylon under the bridge,” Dotson said.
Illinois Department of Transportation crews on scene assisted with locating the suspects. The Peoria Fire Department also deployed the search and rescue boat.
Both suspects were taken into custody without incident. Both were checked out by AMT’s on scene and were okay.
Their charges have not been released.
The incident remains under investigation.
Pictures from the incident:
