×

Police pursuit ends in crash, injuries

BELLEFONTE – A vehicle crash occurred following a short police pursuit by Bellefonte Police around 1:36 a.m. Saturday.

The officer observed a vehicle traveling east on East Bishop Street at an unsafe speed and followed the driver onto Blanchard Street for further observation, according to a Bellefonte Police report.

When the vehicle failed to stop at posted stop signs at Blanchard/Burnside and Blanchard/Humes, the officer switched on emergency lighting to pull the vehicle over, police said.

The vehicle failed to yield and instead accelerated rapidly in the area of Gregory Lane to flee the pursuing officer, police said. The officer followed at a distance and observed the vehicle over-correct at a slight left curve, then over-correct again due to its high rate of speed, according to police. The vehicle went off the roadway through a grassy and wooded area, then spun in a half turn, continued moving backwards and struck a tree with its rear section, police said. The vehicle then overturned, trapping the driver. The driver was extricated by fire department personnel and treated on scene by Bellefonte EMS and a paramedic from Mount Nittany Medical Center, according to the report.

The driver was flown from the crash location by Step Medivac to Altoona Hospital.

The initial crash investigation determined the main crash factor was the speed of the vehicle being greater than conditions allowed, police said. Driving under the influence of alcohol is also suspected.

Charges for the pursuit and crash are pending the completion of the investigation, police said.

The name of the driver and the type of vehicle had not been released by press time.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $3.69/week.

Subscribe Today