News From Terre Haute, Indiana

July 18, 2008

Runaway girl steals police van en route from Parke County


Lynwood, Ill. — Police say a runaway 13-year-old girl from the southern Chicago suburb of Lynwood led officers on a chase from Lynwood to Chicago after stealing a prisoner transport van returning her from Parke County, Indiana.

Lynwood Police Sergeant Greg Szymanski says the incident occurred Thursday afternoon when the driver of the van got lost and stopped to call for directions. Szymanski says the girl somehow seized control of the van and drove off, with Lynwood and Illinois State Police in pursuit.

She was eventually apprehended by Lynwood and Sauk Village police.