The car was the subject of a police pursuit around 8:40 p.m. and was headed northbound when it reached the intersection and slammed into another car, sending it careening into a CTA bus stop at 103rd and Michigan.
The car hit five people who were waiting for the bus. Paramedics took one man to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The other four people were also rushed to local hospitals. The victims range in age from 25 to 64 years old. The driver of the struck car was among the injured.
"The car ran into the bus stop, and just hit 'em, just like that," said Marshall Lewis, witness.
Witnesses say the man who caused the crash not only survived, but got out of the car and ran off. Officers were able to catch up with him, and he is in police custody with charges pending.
The crash was the result of a chase that started when Calumet District officers tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation and the vehicle sped away, police said.
The 64-year-old woman who was inside the vehicle that was hit and a 25-year-old woman who was standing at the bus stop were treated and released from Roseland Community Hospital, police said.
Another 25-year-old woman was taken to Roseland Hospital in fair-to-serious condition, Chicago Fire Dept. spokesman Larry Langford said.
A 58-year-old man was taken to Advocate Trinity Hospital, also in fair-to-serious condition, he said.
Police said a 21-year-old man was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. He was listed in serious-to-critical condition, Langford said.
The suspect declined medical attention, authorities said.
The CTA rerouted the No. 34 South Michigan, No. 119 Michigan/119th and the No. 106 East 103rd bus routes while authorities investigated. The police Major Accidents Investigation Unit is investigating the crash.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
