Lake County, IN – A routine traffic stop turned into a high-speed pursuit on I-65 Tuesday afternoon after a fatal crash had already brought vehicles to a halt. Ana Lidia Perez, a 48-year-old resident of Grayslake, Illinois, was reportedly observed speeding past a Lake County Sheriff’s patrol car, navigating the congested highway at dangerous speeds that reached 110 miles per hour.
According to Lake County sheriffs police reports the incident unfolded near the Ridge Road exit around 4 p.m., where officers were managing the scene of the earlier crash. Despite the heavy traffic, Perez maneuvered her white Chevy dangerously, eventually being intercepted by police just south of the crash site.
Upon her arrest, a distressing discovery was made: a four-year-old child sat in the rear passenger seat, apparently unsecured during the perilous chase. The child was immediately taken into custody by Child Protective Services and placed with his grandmother for safety.
Further complicating Perez’s legal situation was the reported presence of an open alcoholic beverage in the car’s cup holder. She now faces alleged charges including operating a vehicle while intoxicated, reckless driving, and endangering the life of a minor. Perez is currently held at Lake County Jail, awaiting further court proceedings.
