River North crash between van, taxi injures 4

Four people were injured when a van and taxicab collided in the River North neighborhood Thursday night.

Rescue crews responded to the two-vehicle crash about 11:05 p.m. in the 400 block of North Clark Street, said police News Affairs Officer Amina Greer.

A 1992 Chevrolet conversion van traveling southbound on Clark Street disobeyed a red light and struck a taxicab traveling east on West Illinois Street, Greer said.

The cab driver, whose age, gender and condition were not immediately known, was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Greer said.

Three occupants of the van were also hospitalized and listed in "stable" condition, Greer said. Two women, ages 22 and 24, were taken to Stroger Hospital and a 28-year-old man was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Immediately after the crash, the van struck an unoccupied, parked Ford Explorer, which then rear-ended the parked vehicle in front of it, sparking a chain reaction, Greer said. Five parked vehciles were damaged as a result of the crash.

The driver of the van fled the scene, Greer said. No citations have been issued in connection with the crash as police investigate.