Man Dies Fleeing Elmhurst Officers: Police

ELMHURST, IL – A retail theft suspect was fatally struck by a car last week while running away from Elmhurst officers, police said.

The man was identified as Dwight Antonio Watkins Jr., 34, who lives in the 1700 block of Sierra Highlands Court in Plainfield, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

About 9 p.m. Wednesday, officers were called to Jewel, 944 S. York St., about three men stealing liquor, police said.

An officer tried to stop the trio, but the driver sped away, police said. The car came to a stop on the ramp from eastbound Interstate 290 to southbound Interstate 294, just south of Butterfield Road.

Police arrested two suspects. But the driver, Watkins, ran east from the ramp through a construction equipment staging area and over three concrete median walls before a car fatally hit him in the northbound I-294 lanes, authorities said.

State police are investigating the crash.

The other two suspects, Joshua Profit, 23, and Michael Aukstin, 30, both of Chicago, face burglary and retail theft charges, police said.

Aukstin also faces charges of eluding an officer and resisting or obstructing an officer.

The two men were taken to the DuPage County Jail.