Crime & Safety
Woman Tried to Kill Self, Infant Son by Slamming into Cars: Cops
An Evergreen Park woman knew the danger she was putting herself and her infant son in, when she crashed into two cars and an Oak Lawn home, police said.
An Evergreen Park mother trying to kill herself and her 8-month-old son by deliberately crashing into another car was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bail Thursday.
Elizabeth Kruger, 28, faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery, aggravated fleeing and eluding, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, endangering the life of a child, possession of drug paraphernalia and a "multitude of traffic offenses," a Burbank Police media advisory read.
On March 4, Kruger was driving her SUV around 4:45 p.m., when police said she struck another vehicle that was eastbound on 79th Street at New England in Burbank.
After the accident, Kruger left the scene and traveled southbound on New England, police said. A passer-by waved down a Burbank patrol car, and gave a description of a white, newer model BMW, fleeing southbound on New England.
Moments later, the officer spotted the BMW and "tried to catch up to investigate further. The driver refused to pull over and sped away from authorities, Burbank Police said.
As the car continued through the 87th Street and New England intersection on to the Oak Lawn side, it collided with another car, before hitting a corner residence in the 6900 block of 87th Street, police said.
"She wanted to commit suicide by striking another vehicle and knowing that doing so would have ended the life of her infant," the media advisory said. "Since the first collision 'failed' in her attempt, she continued until she again caused another collision on 87th Street and New England."
Kruger and her son, who was in a car seat in the back seat, were both taken to Advocate Christ medical center in Oak Lawn. Kruger was treated and released; her son remains hospitalized in good condition.
Burbank Police said the driver of the second vehicle that Kruger slammed into is still in the hospital recovering from her serious injuries.
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Officials from the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services are investigating and are in the process of developing a safety plan to put the boy and his 5-year-old brother in the care of other siblings, the Chicago Tribune reported.
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