A driver attempting to flee from police crashed his car into a former bar in Rankin early Wednesday morning, sparking a fire that destroyed the building.

Emergency crews rushed to put out the fire when the car slammed into building on Kenmawr Road.

Police said they began following the man driving a white sedan just after 2 a.m.

Officers said they had to stop their pursuit of 29-year-old Gregory Lamont Watson Sr. because they knew a bad bend was coming on the road. Minutes later, police said, the car reached speeds of 100 mph, rolled three times and crashed into a building.

 Investigators said the car then caught fire and the flames spread to the building.

 "Probably about 50 yards down the street here is real sharp bend with a dip in it," said Rankin police Chief Ryan Wooten. "The driver hit that dip in excessive speeds of over 100 mph, lost control of the vehicle, went end over end and landed into Jerry's Bar here at 6^th and Kenmawr."

Investigators said they began following Watson when police suspected him of driving while intoxicated.

After the crash, police said Watson got out of the crashed car, ran across the street and jumped over a fence. Officers were able to catch up with him. After a struggle, he was taken into custody and sent to an area hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

Channel 11's Dave Bondy reported that Watson refused a breathalyzer. Officers are now waiting on the results of a blood test to determine if he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Watson was released from the hospital late Wednesday morning and is currenlty in the Allegheny County Jail.

Bondy reported that Watson is on probation and does not have a driver's license.

 No other injuries were reported.