A patrol officer pulled a Mastic man from his burning car after a seven-mile pursuit that ended when the driver crashed in Riverhead late Wednesday, Suffolk County police said.
Jason Martin, 29, of Madison Avenue in Mastic was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead with nonlife-threatening injuries, police said. He was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and unlawful fleeing from a police officer. His condition was not immediately available Thursday.
Police said the incident began at around 11:15 p.m. when a Seventh Precinct officer, Scott Jensen, saw the 1999 Chrysler Concord driven by Martin moving erratically as it traveled north on County Road 51 in Eastport.
But when Jensen tried to stop Martin, he instead accelerated and led the officer "on a pursuit that covered about seven miles and lasted approximately five minutes," police said.
Police did not say how fast Martin drove or detail the top speed of the pursuit.
Police said the pursuit ended when Martin lost control of the car, crossed over the median "several times," then crashed into a wooded area along the east side of the road.
The car wedged against a tree, pinning the driver's-side door, and caught fire, police said.
Police said Jensen pulled Martin from the burning vehicle via the passenger side door. Jensen was not injured.
Arraignment details for Martin were not immediately available Thursday morning.
Neither was an update of his condition, police said.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
