Villa Park Police say officers tried to pull over the driver of a Dodge Magnum for committing a traffic violation. But the driver refused to stop and sped away. Officers say she lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a tree near the intersection of Plymouth and Douglas.
The victim was identified as 20-year-old Gabriela Dawson.
Neighbors throughout the subdivision heard the crash.
"I was sitting in my living room watching TV, and all of a sudden I heard this big smack, like hitting hard something. And then a few seconds later I saw the police cars," said Theresa O'Hara, resident.
"It was loud. I mean, for us being in the house and we have a fan on in our bedroom, it was like -- like you couldn't believe it," said Bob Guare, resident.
Dawson was pronounced dead at the scene. Autopsy results are pending.
