Chicago committee approves $45M settlement for teen critically injured in police chase crash

CHICAGO - A Chicago City Council committee has approved a settlement for the family of an eighth grader who suffered a devastating brain injury in a crash resulting from a police chase.

Now, on Wednesday, the full City Council will vote on one of the largest payouts in Chicago history: $45 million.

Since the crash, Nathen Jones has lost his ability to "walk, speak, or independently function."

"We seem to take things for granted, like just being able to get up and stand up and get out of bed and use the restroom. He was able to do that before this day," said Ericka Boyd, Jones’ mother.

Jones' injuries stem from April 10, 2021. He had just finished playing video games at a friend's house when he got into the back of a 2002 Volkswagen.

A Chicago police officer said he saw the Volkswagen make an improper stop and activated his emergency lights. The Volkswagen allegedly refused to yield to the officer and went southbound on North Wood Street.

Although the officers knew that they were prohibited from chasing the Volkswagen, under the Chicago Police Department's pursuit policy, they continued to follow close behind, the lawsuit states.

The chase continued and both vehicles went through multiple stop signs and a red light. Both vehicles reportedly reached speeds of 70 miles per hour.

"Within moments, both the police vehicle and the fleeing vehicle were blowing through stop signs at full speed, blowing through a red light at full speed," said Patrick Salvi, attorney for Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard law firm.

According to the lawsuit, three officers were involved in the chase and none of them alerted their supervisors about the pursuit.

The Volkswagen went into the intersection of Grand and Damen Avenues where it struck a Toyota heading southbound.

Jones sustained devastating injuries from the crash. His skull was fractured, which resulted in severe trauma to his brain, the lawsuit states.

Pictured is Nathan Jones, who was "catastrophically" injured in a crash after a police chase. His family is suing the City of Chicago. (Provided by Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard)

He was unconscious and in critical condition when he went to the hospital. 

A portion of Jones' skull was surgically removed and replaced to help save his life, according to the lawsuit. He also had multiple brain bleeds, which led to long-term death of brain tissue. 

Jones now needs around-the-clock nursing and medical care. He will need that care for the rest of his life.

His mom is now his primary caregiver.

"Nathan was a regular. Happy, healthy, active 15-year-old kid. Period. He brought our family a lot of joy. He still does. But the price that he had to pay for being in a car, no amount of money can bring back the child that I had before this," Boyd said.

The officer who drove the patrol car during the crash testified under oath that the pursuit "was a violation of Chicago Police Department Policy," the lawsuit states. 

On April 11, a formal complaint was filed by a supervising patrol sergeant against the officer who drove during the crash. However, there still has been no formal discipline issued against the officer, the lawsuit claims.

All three officers remain with Chicago police. One of the officers was removed from the city's payroll as he awaits disciplinary proceedings before the Police Board.