Woman crashes into SUV during police chase in Oak Brook, later causing $7,000 in damage to hospital bed: officials

OAK BROOK, Ill. – A Chicago woman was arrested Wednesday after she allegedly fled police and crashed into another vehicle in Oak Brook.

Terry Kahdijah, 30, faces several charges, including two counts of aggravated fleeing and evading a police officer, one count of criminal damage, and various misdemeanors and traffic offenses, including driving with a suspended license.

The incident began around 2:35 p.m. when Oak Brook Police received information about a black Audi Q5 that was reportedly involved in a robbery and retail theft in Countryside. Officers located the vehicle near Oak Brook Mall and began surveillance using an unmarked patrol car.

As the Audi exited the mall heading west toward 22nd Street, it allegedly rolled backwards, striking the bumper of the unmarked police vehicle. Officers activated their emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as Kahdijah, reportedly ran a red light and sped westbound on 22nd Street, speeding in a 40 mph zone of at least 61 miles per hour.

At the intersection of Route 83 and 22nd Street, Kahdijah allegedly attempted to turn right from the leftmost lane to travel north on Route 83. According to police, she collided with a Lexus SUV and caused significant damage to the vehicle.

After the accident, Kahdijah’s car stopped. When officers asked her to exit the vehicle, she refused. The police forcibly removed her and took her to a hospital for medical treatment. While Kahdijah was handcuffed to a bed, he allegedly caused approximately $7,000 in damage to the hospital bed.

Kahdijah also faces additional charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police in Cook County.

“The allegations that Ms. Kahdijah not only drove away from officers at a high rate of speed in the middle of the afternoon, but then crashed her car at the intersection of two of DuPage County’s busiest roads are outrageous,” said the DuPage District Attorney County, Robert Berlin. “As the holiday shopping season approaches, I want to remind motorists that in DuPage County we will not tolerate this type of alleged behavior, which endangers not only the defendant, but also the officers involved and motorists. As I have said in the past, but I must repeat it again: If you hear sirens and see lights behind you, do not stop before escaping the police because you will not succeed and the situation will only make it even worse.

A judge granted the state’s request to deny Kahdijah’s pretrial release. Her next court date is scheduled for December 23rd.