Driver dies after stolen U-Haul truck crashes into Little Calumet River after police chase

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The driver of a stolen U-Haul truck died after ending up in the Little Calumet River following a police chase Wednesday morning, Hammond police said.

Hammond police said at about 4:10 a.m., police received an alert from the city's license plate reader system about the presence of a stolen U-Haul in the city.

Officers responded to the area of 136th Street and Sheffield Avenue and attempted to curb the U-Haul and gave chase to the truck after it failed to comply and fled the scene, police said.

The U-Haul led police to 130th Street and Indiana Avenue, where it went over the edge and through a guardrail, ending up in the Little Calumet River, police said.

The driver attempted to swim away and police officers entered to attempt to rescue the driver, but he submerged, police said.

Chicago Fire Department divers responded to the scene and recovered the body. The identity of the suspect has not been released.

Police said there was a female passenger in the U-Haul at the beginning of the chase, but she jumped from the vehicle during the pursuit. She is being questioned by police and has active warrants for her arrest for cocaine possession.

It's not clear why the U-Haul was stolen, or if there was anything inside.