SAN DIEGO --
Five people were hospitalized on Friday night after a high-speed pursuit ended in a crash at Sixth Avenue and A Street.
According to the California Highway Patrol, just after 9 p.m., a CHP officer tried to pull over a driver who was speeding on Highway 163. Instead of stopping, the driver continued to speed. The officer pursued the driver and his passenger through downtown until the car smashed into another car with a man, a woman and their young daughter inside.
"It was definitely a violent collision," said San Diego police Sgt. James Reschke. "He was doing some serious speed."
Eric Moore told 10News he heard what sounded like an explosion.
"When I looked in my rearview mirror... I saw a car flipping over," he said.
Moore said he pulled over and ran to help. He said he saw one of the suspects involved in the pursuit crawl out of his overturned vehicle. Moore said the man tried to escape but police quickly caught him.
It took five officers to restrain the man and put him in the back of a patrol car, but he was able to kick out the window and had to be moved to another patrol car.
"He was high on something: alcohol or drugs or both," said Reschke.
Investigators told 10News the driver was under the influence. He and his passenger were taken to a hospital to be treated for their injuries and then arrested on suspicion of speeding.
The three people in the other car were also taken to the hospital but the extent of their injuries is unknown.
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