Driver killed when South Side police chase ends in crash identified

A driver who led police on a brief South Side chase late Friday died when he crashed his SUV into a viaduct support beam.

Officers pulled the vehicle over about 11 p.m. after the driver made an illegal turn in the 6300 block of South King Drive, police said.

When they asked for the 38-year-old driver’s license, he sped off from the traffic stop, police said.

Officers gave chase and saw the SUV slam into the viaduct near 68th Street and Anthony Avenue, police said.

The driver, identified as Bryan Nelson, was ejected from the SUV and pronounced dead at the scene at 11:08 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Nelson lived in the 2500 block of East 106th Street.

An autopsy found he died of multiple injuries from the SUV striking a fixed object, and his death was ruled an accident.