HOUSTON – An officer with the Houston Police Department and a woman are injured after a pursuit that resulted in a fiery crash in northwest Houston Tuesday, according to investigators.
It happened on West Little York and Fairbanks around 1:13 a.m.
According to HPD, an officer assigned to the North Shepherd area observed a driver in a vehicle and ran their license plate number. Police said it appeared the vehicle was involved in a catalytic converter theft. The driver then ran a red light in front of the HPD officer, investigators said.
Police said the officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The suspect yielded and when the officer approached, police said the suspect fled the scene.
According to officers, a six-minute chase ensued going west on Little York. Investigators said when the officer was going through the intersection, he struck a sedan, causing the HPD patrol car to catch fire.
Investigators said the officer was able to self-extricate and sustained minor scrapes from the crash. He was not transported to the hospital.
A 53-year-old woman driving the sedan was trapped in her vehicle and was later transported to Ben Taub Hospital, police said. Investigators said the woman told doctors she was having abdominal pain and is now undergoing surgery.
Police said the suspect got away and has not been found yet. Officers have not released the suspect’s identity or the vehicle description.
HPD’s Vehicle Crimes Division is investigating the crash.