By Matthew Walberg
The Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO — An off-duty Chicago Police officer died early Saturday morning after his motorcycle collided with an SUV in the Bridgeport neighborhood on the near South Side.
Wayne Smith, 34, of the 1300 block of West 98th Street, was pronounced dead at John H. Stroger Hospital at 12:09 a.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. An autopsy was scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
Authorities said they have a suspect in custody, but that he has not been charged as of Saturday morning.
The incident unfolded at about 11:20 p.m. Friday when Smith was riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle southbound on Ashland Avenue when a Ford SUV heading northbound turned into his path to head west on Robinson Street, according to Chicago Police News Affairs Officer John Henry.
The male driver of the SUV then fled on foot, but was apprehended a short time later, according to News Affairs Officer Laura Kubiak.
It was unclear whether Smith, an 11-year-veteran with the department, was on his way to or from work, Kubiak said.
The suspect was being questioned by Wentworth Area detectives. No charges had been filed as of 10:30 a.m.
Kubiak and Henry said it was not yet known whether speed, drugs or alcohol were factors in the accident.
Copyright 2007 Chicago Tribune
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