SUV stolen from 76-year-old man crashes into building in Noble Square, Chicago police say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A stolen vehicle crashed into a building Thursday afternoon on the city's Northwest Side. The driver then fled the scene on foot.

The crash happened sometime after 2 p.m. on Ashland Avenue in Noble Square, Chicago police said.

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A gray Jeep SUV was traveling northbound when it struck the building, police said. The vehicle was reported stolen.

Chicago police said the vehicle was carjacked around 8:15 a.m. Thursday near 92nd Street and Langley from a 76-year-old man who was the driver. The car was taken by three offenders and at least one of them was armed. The driver was not injured.

The crashed Jeep SUV had a disabled veteran license plate.

After the crash about four hours later in the day, an unknown driver of the Jeep exited the vehicle and fled the scene in an unknown direction, police said.

The aftermath of the midday crash was captured on video, showing two people in a vehicle racing from the scene after plowing into a building, as witnesses looked on.

"We heard a big crash, but we didn't see a car, so when I ran over there, didn't even really the car was in the building," a witness said.

The witness couldn't believe his eyes after the stolen grey Jeep SUV apparently lost control and crashed into an empty first-floor office that was under renovation in a mixed-use building at Ashland and Cortez.

"I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know those kids were in there," the witness said. "I thought a normal person got into a car crash. So I went over there to kind of talk to them and help them, but then here goes two young kids running out the door, sprinting."

No injuries of arrests were initially reported.

Police continue to investigate. No further information was immediately available.

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