The Chicago City Council on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, approved a $27 million settlement for the family of a South Side woman killed in a 2017 crash linked to what attorneys and court records describe as an unauthorized Chicago Police Chase pursuit.
The settlement, approved Wednesday, resolves a wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of 47-year-old Stacy Vaughn-Harrell, a mother of six who was killed on June 24, 2017, when a fleeing vehicle struck her car at a residential intersection. Her daughter, Kimberlyn Myers, who was in the vehicle at the time, sustained serious injuries.
According to the lawsuit and findings presented in court, the crash occurred after Chicago police officers initiated a pursuit in an unmarked SUV without activating emergency lights or a siren, in violation of department policy during a Chicago Police Chase. CPD’s vehicle pursuit guidelines generally restrict officers from engaging in high-speed chases unless there is a clear and articulable reason to believe a serious violent offense has occurred, and require the use of emergency equipment to warn the public.
Attorneys for the family argued that officers lacked a lawful basis to initiate the pursuit and failed to follow established safety protocols. During the chase, the fleeing vehicle reportedly traveled at speeds exceeding 50 miles per hour and ran multiple stop signs before colliding with Vaughn-Harrell’s vehicle.
Vaughn-Harrell was pronounced dead at the scene. Myers suffered a fractured clavicle and internal injuries, including a lacerated liver, according to court records. The driver of the fleeing vehicle fled on foot and has not been apprehended, authorities said.
“My mom was a law-abiding citizen. She would have done anything for anyone,” Myers said in a statement released following the settlement approval. “We didn’t just lose her that day, we all lost a part of ourselves.”
The case has had a lengthy legal history. A jury initially awarded the family approximately $10.1 million following a 2023 trial. However, a Cook County judge later granted the city’s motion for a new trial, citing procedural issues during pretrial rulings and closing arguments. That decision was upheld on appeal.
After the appeal, the family retained new legal counsel, and additional investigation and evidence were developed ahead of a second trial that was expected to include testimony from all six of Vaughn-Harrell’s children and her husband.
As the retrial approached, the city agreed to settle the case for $27 million. The City Council’s Finance Committee advanced the settlement on March 13 before full council approval this week. City officials confirmed that $7 million of the settlement will be covered by the city’s insurance, with the remaining amount paid from city funds.
In a statement, attorney Lance Northcutt, who represented the family, said the reinvestigation of the case played a key role in the outcome.
“There are no winners here. A precious life was lost,” Northcutt said. “Our focus was to examine every detail of what happened and present a full account of the impact on this family.”
The settlement adds to a growing number of high-dollar payouts by the City of Chicago tied to police misconduct and pursuit-related incidents. Data from city budget documents and prior reporting show that settlements and judgments related to police cases have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars over the past decade, prompting ongoing debate among city leaders about accountability, training, and risk management within the Chicago Police Department.
City officials have not publicly detailed whether any officers involved in the 2017 incident faced disciplinary action. CPD policies regarding vehicle pursuits have undergone revisions in recent years, with increased emphasis on supervisory oversight and stricter limitations on when pursuits may be initiated.
For the Vaughn-Harrell family, the settlement brings a measure of closure after nearly nine years of legal proceedings, though relatives say it cannot replace the loss.
The case underscores continuing concerns about police pursuit practices in densely populated neighborhoods, where high-speed chases can pose significant risks to bystanders and motorists who are not involved in criminal activity.