Driver killed; passenger injured in crash following traffic stop attempt

MURPHYSBORO, Ill., (KBSI) — Illinois State Police are investigating an officer-involved death after a traffic stop attempt led to a crash early Tuesday morning.

According to authorities, a Murphysboro police officer attempted to stop a vehicle that had previously fled from other police agencies around 1:30 a.m. The vehicle failed to stop, and the officer lost sight of it.

The fleeing vehicle was later found crashed near South 14th Street and Spruce Street, where the driver was pronounced dead.

The passenger was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Murphysboro residents told FOX23 the crash occurred in a condo parking lot.

Inside one of the condos, Anthony Mackiewicz said he was asleep when it happened.

“I was awoken by what I thought was an earthquake,” he said. “I felt it. The whole house moved.”

Mackiewicz showed FOX23 videos and pictures he took of the crash, which show the vehicle wrapped around the tree and on fire.

Bridgett Conklin lives across the street. Her and her boyfriend were awake when they heard the crash and ran out to see if they could help. She said it was a frightening scene – traumatizing to witness.

“We already knew the dude was dead because the engine was in the front seat, and it had been like – really gross,” she said.

Mackiewicz said he saw the female passenger that emergency responders pulled from the vehicle.

“I said a prayer for their souls and it really – I had a hard time working today because I couldn’t keep it off my mind,” he said.

Mackiewicz believes the vehicle had to have been going at least 100 miles per hour.

“If that tree hadn’t been there, it would have came through the wall and probably killed me and my roommate because it was in a direct line with the house,” he said. “The officer this morning told me the same thing. I should feel very lucky that that tree was there.”

The Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigations Zone 7 is leading the investigation, which is ongoing. No further information has been released.