A late-night pursuit involving U.S. Park Police ended in a crash, brief brush fire, and two arrests after officers attempted to stop a stolen vehicle in Northeast Washington, D.C., authorities said.
According to U.S. Park Police, officers first spotted the stolen vehicle near Bladensburg Road and New York Avenue NE on Sunday night, Jan. 11. When police attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the driver allegedly fled, leading officers on a pursuit toward Route 50.
The chase came to an end at the ramp from eastbound Route 50 to the northbound Baltimore-Washington Parkway, where the suspect vehicle crashed into the median. The impact sparked a small brush fire along the roadway, police said.
Fire crews from the Prince George’s County Fire Department, assisted by D.C. Fire and EMS Department, responded quickly and extinguished the fire. No major injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
Authorities said the driver of the stolen vehicle was detained at the scene following the crash. A passenger fled on foot but was located a short time later and taken into custody without further incident.
During the arrests, officers recovered a stolen Glock 19 9mm handgun from the suspects, according to police. Investigators have not yet released the identities of those arrested or indicated what charges they may face.
Police also confirmed that an uninvolved vehicle was struck during the crash. Occupants of that vehicle suffered only minor injuries and did not require extensive medical treatment.
The ramp from eastbound Route 50 to northbound BW Parkway was temporarily closed while investigators processed the scene and cleared debris. Traffic on eastbound Route 50 remained open during the investigation, officials said.
The incident remains under investigation, and additional details, including potential charges, are expected to be released by authorities as the case progresses.
