On Thursday morning, at approximately 5:18 a.m., Kenosha Police department squads were pursuing a stolen Illinois vehicle westbound from Sheridan Road on 89th Street. The pursuit vehicle continued to Springbrook Road and 39th Avenue in Pleasant Prairie, where units from the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department and Pleasant Prairie Police set up to assist.
Kenosha Police Department squads terminated their pursuit as speeds of the fleeing vehicle reached speeds of 100 miles per hour. Kenosha County and Pleasant Prairie police squads continued the pursuit southbound on 39th Avenue from Springbrook Road. A tire deflation device was deployed in the 10600 block of 39th Avenue. The intent of deploying the device was to safely deflate the fleeing vehicle’s tires and safely end the pursuit. As the stolen vehicle attempted to avoid the deflation device, it swerved out of control and struck a tree.
The passenger, a 19-year-old North Chicago, Illinois resident, fled on foot and was apprehended by officers and deputies in the 10700 block of 38th Avenue. The operator of the stolen vehicle, a 16-year-old Zion, Illinois resident, suffered significant injuries and was transported to Froedtert South and then to Froedtert Medical Center in Milwaukee, where he is currently being treated for his injuries.
The identities of the passenger and the operator are not being released at this time. The Wisconsin State Patrol was contacted as the outside agency to conduct the pursuit and crash investigation. At the time of this report the 10400 blocks through the 10900 of 39th Avenue remain closed as the scene is still actively being processed.
During 2020, vehicle pursuits continue to be a growing concern in Pleasant Prairie and the surrounding jurisdictions. In Pleasant Prairie alone, vehicle pursuit incidents have increased from four in 2019 to 22 during the same period in 2020. The majority of these pursuits involved incredibly reckless conduct and dangerously high speeds. Several have been linked to severe violent felonies in southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois that preceded the pursuits. The Pleasant Prairie Police Department handles each pursuit with due regard and cares for the residents, innocent traveling public, and safety officers involved.