Chase ends with one dead, one severely injured

ROCK FALLS — One person is dead following a Tuesday afternoon police chase that started in Sterling and ended in Rock Falls.

The Rock Falls Police Department issued a statement Tuesday evening:

At approximately 3:59 p.m. an officer from the Sterling Police Department attempted to stop a black Mercedes for a traffic violation. The driver fled from the Sterling officer and a brief pursuit ensued. During this pursuit, the fleeing vehicle struck another vehicle in the area of First Avenue and Third Street in Sterling and continued driving.

The pursuit was terminated after the Sterling officer lost sight of the vehicle in the area of Lefevre Road and Second Avenue.

At approximately 4:08 p.m. a Rock Falls officer spotted the same vehicle now traveling southbound on 12th Avenue in Rock Falls and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The black Mercedes fled at a high rate of speed as officers attempted to catch up to it. The Mercedes pulled away from the Rock Falls officers and continued east on Route 30 across the Hennepin canal.

The driver continued eastbound at a high rate of speed and clipped an eastbound vehicle as they attempted to pass it approximately ¼ mile east of Industrial Park Road. The Mercedes then collided head-on with a pick-up truck travelling westbound on Route 30. Both the truck and the Mercedes were heavily damaged in the collision.

The driver of the pick-up sustained major injuries and was declared deceased at the scene. The passenger of the westbound vehicle was injured and transported to CGH. The driver of the Mercedes was transported to CGH with life-threatening injuries and later transferred to Javon Bea hospital in Rockford.

This incident remains under investigation at this time. Names of the involved parties will be released at a later time.

Rock Falls Police are being assisted by Illinois State Police Crash Reconstructionists and Investigators.

Rock Falls Fire Department, Sterling Police Department, Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office, Whiteside County Coroner, Rock Falls Electric Department also assisted at the scene.

“No further information will be available until at least 10 a.m. tomorrow,” the email said.