A 40-year-old Chicago father died in a tragic crash involving a theft crew fleeing a $700,000 “smash-and-grab” at a Louis Vuitton store.

JUST IN: A 40-year-old Chicago father died in a tragic crash involving a theft crew fleeing a $700,000 “smash-and-grab” at a Louis Vuitton store.

The victim, Mark Arceta of Skokie, was driving to his final hospital shift before going on paternity leave when a getaway vehicle, fleeing the burglary, collided with his car.

The robbery occurred early Thursday morning on Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile. Thieves used a stolen pickup to crash into the store’s frontage, grabbed merchandise, then fled in several vehicles. One of those vehicles, a black Kia allegedly driven by 30-year-old Dejuan Wingard, was racing through traffic at around 77 mph when it struck Arceta’s Honda CR-V at the intersection of Michigan and Ohio Streets. Arceta was following traffic properly when the Kia slammed into him.

Arceta was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital but didn’t survive. His son was born the next day. His family describe him as deeply excited about the baby and looking forward to being there for his children.

Seven men have since been arrested and charged with first-degree murder, burglary, and retail theft. Authorities said the smash-and-grab was a coordinated theft, stealing nearly $700,000 in goods. Some of the suspects remain hospitalized; others are in custody awaiting court hearings.