CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police are looking for the car thieves who led troopers on a chase then jumped from the stolen car in northeast Charlotte.
The incident caused one trooper to crash and sent an innocent person to the hospital.
Officials said it all began on Interstate 485 Wednesday evening. A trooper clocked a driver speeding near North Tryon Street and a chase ensued, eventually onto Mallard Creek Road.
Eric Farley told Channel 9 he was on his way home when suddenly he was passed by a speeding car, then two Highway Patrol cruisers. Minutes later, a trooper crashed near Keaton Avenue.
“A couple of people jumped out of their car to make sure she (the trooper) was OK,” Farley said.
Officials said a pair of troopers were attempting to stop the suspect’s car by performing a rolling road block.
The stolen vehicle struck one trooper’s cruiser, sending it into a construction barrier. Some of the construction material then hit a nearby pedestrian.
The bystander was rushed to the hospital and is expected to be OK. Details of their injuries were not made available.
Officials said the driver of the stolen car continued about a half-mile before abandoning the vehicle in a nearby neighborhood on Mason Drive.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department deployed its helicopter and K-9 units in an attempt to find them, but no arrests have been made.
Detectives recovered the vehicle and searched it for evidence.
The trooper involved in the crash is also expected to be OK.
Officials will review the case to ensure all proper policies and procedures were followed, as is standard procedure.
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