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Man Killed In Accident Following Police Chase

March 10, 2006

An accident that killed a 19-year-old man Sunday followed a chase that police eventually gave up.

According to police News Affairs Officer Kristina Schuler, in the early morning hours Sunday, police saw an occupant point a gun from a Pontiac on the 3400 block of South Pulaski Road and tried to pull the car over.

The driver of the vehicle, a man who appeared to be in his 20s, continued on when police tried to stop him, and police eventually gave up the chase for safety reasons, Schuler said.

When the driver reached 45th Street and Pulaski Road, his car crashed into a brick wall, Schuler said. The crash happened at about 2:25 a.m., Chicago Lawn District Lieutenant Bill Marose said.

According to the Cook County medical examiner's office,one of the passengers in the car, Luis Vasquez, of the 4000 block of West 61st Street, was killed in the accident.

Vasquez was pronounced dead at 3:13 a.m. at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to the medical examiner's office.

Two other passengers refused medical treatment, and the driver was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he was being held in police custody, Schuler said.

Police believe alcohol likely played a role in the crash, and the investigation continued Sunday evening, Schuler said.