Family of off-duty Chicago cop killed in crash left with questions

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The family of an off-duty Chicago officer killed when his car crashed into another car Tuesday spoke to ABC7.

Officer Taylor Clark's relatives are now unexpectedly preparing funeral arrangements for the 32-year-old who died in a West Side crash that also killed 27-year-old Chequita Adams.

"It hurts very bad. ... It took a part of me," said cousin Blaze Taylor.

His uncle Eric Taylor said Clark was "a lovable young man. He had so much life ahead of him."

Early Tuesday, minutes after leaving work at the Chicago Police Department's 10th District, where he worked as a tactical team officer, Clark was killed when his Jeep struck a Nissan at West Roosevelt Road and South Kostner Avenue. Adams was in the Nissan, waiting to make a turn.

Prior to the crash, the off-duty officer was pursued by an on-duty officer, who mistakenly thought he was involved in a carjacking. Surveillance video shows part of the pursuit.

But some relatives of Officer Clark question the initial reports of the accident.

"My cousin my brother, he would have never ran from the police. He would have stopped. My views on that, with everything that is being said, I viewed that as the story is not being told," Blaze Taylor said.

"It's hard when you think about what's going on in his mind,' Eric Taylor said.

Clark's family said he was dedicated to helping young people, living a healthy life and creating music.

Before he was a police officer, most people knew him as DJ Taylor Made and he was happy to share that gift.

"He wanted music to be more positive, more inspirational. So he worked with kids to help them write music that was more positive and inspirational to the community," Eric Taylor said.

"He was very passionate about saving lives, he was very passionate about changing the community," Blaze Taylor said.

Chicago police have referred all questions about the incident to the city's Independent Police Review Authority, which has not commented on their investigation.

Adams' family is planning a press conference on Thursday.

WATCH INTERVIEW WITH CHEQUITA ADAMS' FAMILY