Man dies following crash involving CPD cruiser

FOX 32 NEWS - Authorities say a 66-year-old man has died following a crash with a Chicago police vehicle that was responding to a reported shooting.

The police vehicle was carrying tactical officers when the crash happened about 10:40 p.m. Monday at an intersection in the city's Roseland neighborhood.

"And at the last minute, the police officer hit his siren and ran into the car and forced him into the gate right here," said eyewitness Terrell Stovall. "He didn't have the siren going (until) he ran the stop sign. That's when he proceeded to hit the civilian unit."

Police dispute that, saying the in-car recorder shows both the sirens and lights were operating.

The man has been identified as 66-year-old Jack Burris. He lived in the Chatham neighborhood, where friends and neighbors told FOX 32 he took care of his ailing mother until she passed away a few months ago.

The Independent Police Review Authority will investigate whether the officer's speed was justified by the nature of the emergency and the road conditions.

A woman who works across the street from the accident scene told FOX 32 she was nearly hit by a speeding police car a couple months ago.

"There's a lot of police traffic around here because of the area we're in. I get that. But they don't come through with sirens and lights. You see the lights but you never hear them. And they do go very fast,” said Breanna Hunter.

The officers were taken to a hospital with what were described as minor injuries.

It's a difficult balance for Chicago Police: to get to the scene of a shooting fast, but to also get there safely.

The crash is under investigation.