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(Above) Google Map view of East Huron Street just west of Michigan Avenue.

12-Oct-18 – A 17-year-old man has been charged in Tuesday’s violent carjacking in River North that injured three people and damaged several cars.

The unidentified juvenile was charged with one felony count of vehicular hijacking and one felony count of leaving the scene of an accident. He was in Juvenile Court on Wednesday.

At about 7:05 p.m. on East Huron Street between Rush Street and Michigan Avenue, a man was loading shopping bags into the back of his 2015 Mercedes Benz.

According to Chicago Police Department, the 17-year-old entered the car, quickly started it, and sped off, briefly dragging the owner of the car as he tried to stop the hijacking.

Andrew Franco told Fox 32 Chicago that he had the key fob in his pocket but if the fob is in the vicinity, the engine will start. He said he was dragged about 15 feet when his wristwatch got caught in the door handle.

The stolen car struck a pedestrian and a bicyclist. It crashed into several vehicles. After driving the Mercedes through downtown, the carjacker bailed on Lake Shore Drive near Grant Park. He ran from the car but was apprehended near Buckingham Fountain.

The people struck by the car sustained minor injuries.