Illinois State Police confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were inside a second vehicle involved in the incident, which occurred on the Damen Avenue off-ramp of Interstate 55 shortly before 11:30 a.m. State police said no injuries were reported.
The circumstances surrounding the arrest remain unclear. Activists and local officials questioned what appeared to be agents' decision to use their vehicle to stop a blue pickup truck on a busy expressway off-ramp.
Kevin Amaro of the Southwest Side Rapid Response Team said he was traveling on I-55 moments before the crash.
"I saw five to six cars, speeding really fast," Amaro said.
Amaro said he pulled over after witnessing the aftermath and briefly spoke with the man being detained.
"He quickly asked me, 'Do you have a phone? Can you call my family and please let them know. Call them,'" Amaro said.
According to Amaro, the man was taken away before he could obtain any additional information.
As news of the incident spread, more people gathered near the off-ramp, where the damaged ICE vehicle had been towed.
Baltazar Enríquez of the Little Village Community Council said community members sought information from agents at the scene.
"We asked one of the agents, 'Why were you following him?'" Enríquez said. "He responds 'Oh, he had a DUI warrant.' But we don't know yet if this is true."
Ald. Julia Ramirez, whose 12th Ward includes parts of the area, also responded to the scene. Ramirez said she was concerned about the potential for tensions to escalate as protesters gathered.
"Last year, there was tear gas and rubber bullets, and I was really worried about that occurring," Ramirez said. "And I decided to bring a staffer along, so we could be on the scene to potentially de-escalate."
Ramirez said she has not been able to verify the reason for the arrest but questioned the manner in which it appeared to have been conducted.
"The ICE vehicle was pinned alongside that vehicle. Super dangerous. We're talking about the expressway," Ramirez said.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately responded to requests for comment.