Local News

Man Struck By Car Being Chased By Police

(CBS) A local man caught was in the path of what some were calling a police chase gone bad. He was standing on the sidewalk when witnesses say the high-speed chase spiraled out of control and the man was hit before he had a chance to get out of the way.

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports that the 29-year-old victim was hospitalized at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was listed in serious condition with head injuries Wednesday night and his family was demanding answers.

Officials said this was all related to a series of car-jackings and armed robberies in the suburbs, but the victim's mother had questions about how the police handled the ensuing chase.

Camille Fola said she got a call from her son John Phillips Tuesday afternoon as he was being rushed to the hospital, asking for help.

She said witnesses told her her son was on the sidewalk at 99th and Halsted Streets in Chicago when he was hit by a stolen car being chased by the Alsip Police Department.

"The car jumped the curb and the police continued to chase the car, as I understand … it hit my son, he flew in the air," Fola said.

Officials on Tuesday said they were pursuing the car because they believed the driver and passenger were responsible for a string of armed robberies in the south suburbs.

Fola has a police report but wanted to know why the chase apparently continued through several suburbs and into Chicago and what exactly police did after her son was hit.

"My son was hurt for no reason at all and the police still didn't catch the bad guy. So, I'm thinking they probably should have given up a while back and my son wouldn't be laying there bleeding from his brain right now as we speak," Fola said.

Alsip police said no one was available Wednesday night to answer questions about the chase and CBS 2 News was unable to get in touch with any other Alsip officials to get in touch with them about what happened Tuesday.

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