A 26-year-old Chicago man who died Wednesday was “conscious and talking” before an ambulance took him to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn after he was run over by a semitruck last week, according to Illinois State Police.
Parris Johnson tried to hop aboard the truck after flagging it down on Interstate 57 near 119th Street while running from Chicago police in connection with a theft, according to authorities. Initially he was being treated for serious injuries that police described as “not life-threatening,” according to state police.
Johnson was pronounced dead Wednesday morning at the hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. It’s unclear when an autopsy will be performed, and the cause of his death his not been disclosed.
Johnson was charged with misdemeanor retail theft of less than $300 and was due in court Thursday, according to court records.
An attempt to reach his family on Thursday was unsuccessful.
According to Chicago police, Johnson was arrested after fleeing from Target at 11840 S. Marshfield Ave. Records did not list what was allegedly taken.
Officers were in pursuit of Johnson about 8:30 a.m. Aug. 25, when he jumped onto the expressway and tried to stop a car and truck, authorities said. The car drove past Johnson, but he jumped onto the truck and told the driver he had been robbed, according to state police.
The truck driver pulled to the shoulder and told Johnson to get off his truck, according to state police. When the truck pulled away, Johnson tried to jump back onto the truck, fell and was caught under the rear axle, according to reports.
The medical examiner’s office lists Johnson’s address as being in the 12000 block of South Bishop Street in Chicago, but police records gave an address in the 6400 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue.
Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.