A driver was seriously hurt in a one-vehicle crash in the overnight hours Monday, Jan. 12, in downtown Flossmoor on Sterling Avenue, according to village officials. 

The driver was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn by ambulance in critical condition. Advocate Christ is the closest hospital with a trauma center. 

Flossmoor Police Commander Tim Filkins said the incident occurred after the driver was observed by a Homewood police officer traveling at a high rate of speed near 183rd Street and Western Avenue. 

When the driver saw the Homewood squad car, he headed south on Western. As he entered the Flossmoor downtown area, he was traveling south in the northbound lane of Sterling when one wheel clipped a curb, Filkins said. 

The driver lost control and crashed into Beyond Borders Cafe at 1036 Sterling Ave. No one was in the cafe at the time of the crash.

Filkins noted that the Homewood officer did not pursue the vehicle but followed at a safe distance and arrived on scene soon after the crash. 

The car caught fire after the impact, but first responders were able to extinguish the blaze. Flossmoor police and fire department crews extricated the driver from the vehicle.

A portion of the downtown area was closed to traffic during the emergency response. Streets later reopened. Clean-up efforts and an investigation are continuing. Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team responded to the scene to help with the investigation.

Beyond Borders co-owner Chris Zarozny said he was not yet able to predict when the cafe would reopen but said progress reports would be posted to the business’s social media pages.

More information will be provided if it becomes available.