John Leary Jr., 19, of Dolton, Illinois, died on October 15, 2017, after a high-speed police chase ended in a crash. He was a passenger in a vehicle that fled after Dolton police attempted a traffic stop; the pursuit reached dangerous speeds and the vehicle crashed, killing Leary and severely injuring another passenger.

The driver was later charged with reckless homicide. The Village of Dolton and the officers involved were also sued for wrongful death, with the suit alleging negligent and reckless conduct during the pursuit. A Cook County jury found the village and the officers liable and awarded a multi-million dollar verdict to cover medical expenses and compensation for the families’ losses.

The case raised questions about the conduct and frequency of police chases in Dolton and about legal responsibility when pursuits end in tragedy.