2 dead after motorcycle flees Midlothian traffic stop, crashes in Harvey

Two people died in a motorcycle crash Sunday after a police pursuit in the south suburbs.

Octavia R. Harper and Martise Kaprice Riley, both 35, were injured in the crash about 8:25 p.m. at 147th and Wood streets in Harvey, according to the Cook County Medical examiner’s office. They were pronounced dead less than an hour later.

The crash was the result of a police pursuit that started in Midlothian, Harvey Police Chief Eddie Winters said in an email.

Midlothian Police Deputy Chief Larry Rafferty said an officer saw two people on a single motorcycle going 86 mph in a 35 mph zone at 8:21 p.m. near 145th Street and Kedzie Avenue in Midlothian. The officer began the chase in a squad car with its lights activated.

Supervisors called off the search after “about 30 seconds” because of the speed and because the motorcycle left Midlothian and entered Posen, Rafferty said. Posen police then took over the pursuit until the bike ultimately crashed in Harvey.

It is unknown who was operating the motorcycle, or if either wore a helmet.

Posen police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

An autopsy Monday found Harper, who lived in Chicago Heights, and Riley, who lived in Calumet City, both died of multiple injuries from the crash, the medical examiner’s office said. Their deaths were ruled accidental.