Police chase ends in wreck, multiple injuries

A police pursuit ended in a multiple-car wreck Friday morning on 12th Street. Multiple people were injured in the accident. The severity of the injuries and the cause of the pursuit were not immediately known.
A police pursuit ended in a multiple-car wreck Friday morning on 12th Street. Multiple people were injured in the accident. The severity of the injuries and the cause of the pursuit were not immediately known.

— Three people were injured when a stolen van that was fleeing from authorities crashed into a pickup and overturned.

The injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Little Rock Police Department spokesman Michelle Howard said the incident started about 10:20 a.m. at Maple Street and Asher Avenue when officers tried to stop the van. The driver refused to pull over and police chased it to West 12th and Dennison streets, where it hit a pickup.

Howard said three people in the pickup were injured but the three occupants of the stolen van were not believed to be hurt. They were all taken into custody.

Howard said she didn't have information on what speeds the chase reached.

Anderson Washington, 76, said he watched the accident unfold from 12th and Dennison. He said the pickup was northbound on Dennison when it pulled onto 12th Street and into the path of the fleeing van, which he estimated was traveling about 70 mph.

The impact heavily damaged the pickup and it sent the van toppling over. It landed on its top and slid an entire block uphill, coming to a rest at Dennison and Park after sending debris throughout the roadway.

Washington said two men were able to get out of the van and run, while a third had to be helped out by emergency responders.

12th Street remains closed in both directions while officers take measurements for an accident reconstruction.

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