Two Arrested, Sent to Hospital After Police Chase Ends in Crash

A brief police chase that sped through a heavy-populated downtown during Monday's lunch hour ended with a crash on Linden Street, just off North Livermore Avenue.

Around noon, police spotted a car in downtown that was reported stolen earlier in the day, Captain Steve Gallagher said.

An officer attempted to stop the car — occupied by two people — but the driver instead sped away and police initiated a pursuit that started near First Street, Gallagher said.

The chase lasted about a minute and ended when the driver, speeding and zipping through traffic northbound on North Livermore Avenue, attempted to make a left turn onto Linden Street and crashed into a parked truck.

Witnesses said the driver ran stop signs, red lights and dodged several vehicles during the brief chase.

The occupants of the vehicle after the collision fled on foot in opposite directions, but were caught and arrested by officers nearby on K Street and on North Livermore Avenue, Gallagher said.

Both were taken to a hospital for minor injuries related to the collision, Gallagher said.

No other traffic collisions or injuries were reported during the chase.

"It was a safe job by all our guys," Gallagher said. "But reckless on this guy's part."

A portion of Linden Street will be closed this afternoon as police continue to investigate the incident.