Man arrested after hiding in manhole

HPD: Man tried to get away from officers after crash

HOUSTON – A man was arrested Monday after Houston police said he tried to get away from officers by going down a manhole.

Investigators said the man ran away from them after a crash on the Gulf Freeway between South Wayside and Griggs in southeast Houston.

A police officer said he saw the man crash his car on the freeway Sunday at 9 p.m., and the driver got out and ran from the scene.

The officer went after him, and the driver jumped into a manhole and refused to come out.

After firefighters checked for noxious gases in the pipe, members of the Houston Police Department's dive team were able to get him out.

Investigators said the man may have been under the influence. He was asking for his wife. When he came out he was taken away by ambulance.

His name and condition were not released.