Police chase: Driver of stolen U-Haul dies after crashing into Little Calumet River

CHICAGO - A stolen U-Haul truck crashed into the Little Calumet River during a police chase Wednesday morning, killing the driver in Chicago's West Pullman neighborhood.

Hammond police received a report that a stolen U-Haul truck entered city limits around 4 a.m.  Officers saw the U-Haul near 136th Street and Sheffield Avenue and tried to pull the vehicle over. However, the man ignored the emergency lights and sirens and kept driving, police said.

The U-Haul was traveling around 30 mph during the police pursuit when the driver lost control at a curve in the road, going over the edge and crashing in the Little Calumet River near 130th Street and Indiana Avenue in Chicago, police said. The driver tried to evade capture by swimming away from police who entered the river to try to rescue him, according to Hammond police.

The suspect became submerged in water and divers with the Chicago Fire Department were called to the scene where they recovered his body. He was identified as 34-year-old Larry Perry, of Chicago.

Police said a female passenger was inside the U-Haul during the beginning of the police pursuit, but she jumped out of the vehicle during the chase, police said. She was later taken in for questioning by Hammond police, who said she had active warrants for her arrest related to possession of cocaine.

Chicago police cars could be seen near where the truck entered the water. A Hammond police vehicle was also partially submerged in the river. It was pulled from the water by a tow truck around 7:30 a.m. The U-Haul truck remains at the scene of the crash.

Indiana Avenue is closed between 127th and 130th streets.

No Hammond police officers were injured during the chase.