UPDATE: Police chase leads to Monday I-74 crash, closure
Update at 5:00 p.m.
The Champaign County Sheriff’s Office shared that Monday’s I-74 closure was a result of a car crash following a police chase.
At 1:40 p.m., authorities found a car traveling on Bloomington Road in Champaign that had fled from police in Kankakee County earlier on Monday. A Sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull the vehicle over, but instead it sped away towards eastbound I-74.
The suspect’s vehicle made it as far as Milepost 185 when it reportedly “rammed” the deputy’s squad car and hit a semi-truck. The suspect’s car was disabled in the crash, ending the chase.
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The driver was identified as 19-year-old Anthony Adams of Sun River Terrace. One passenger, a female juvenile, was also in the car. Both she and Adams were taken into custody.
Authorities found two handguns, an extended magazine and a rifle upon searching the vehicle. One firearm had a defaced serial number and another was referred to as a “ghost gun,” which are guns that are personally assembled and lack serial numbers.
The Sheriff’s deputy was treated for minor injuries in the incident. No one else was hurt.
While the juvenile was later released to her parent, Adams remains in the Champaign County Jail on charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated fleeing and eluding.
The Illinois State Police and Urbana Police Department assisted the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office through the incident.
Update at 3:19 p.m.
Illinois State Police said a crash that shut down a lane of eastbound I-74 on Monday involved three vehicles. Injuries are being reported but there is no word on the severity.
The highway was shut down in the aftermath but has since reopened.
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Traffic is currently backed up on Interstate 74 in Urbana due to a crash in the eastbound lanes.
The crash happened at Milepost 185 near the exit to University Avenue. Multiple police cars are at the scene.
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Traffic is flowing past the crash site, but in the left lane only. Vehicles are backed up to Cunningham Avenue as a result.
WCIA has reached out to the Illinois State Police for further information. We have not heard back yet.
This is a developing story.
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