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Police chase starts after a series of hit-and-run crashes

A police chase started after a series of hit-and-run crashes in Hempfield Township and ended down the road in Ligonier Tuesday night,

Danielle Jackson was on her way home from wrestling practice last night with her three boys in the car when she got caught in the crosshairs of a lengthy and at times, high-speed police pursuit.

"It was terrifying and I tried to hold it together; I wanted to cry and I could feel myself shaking and my boys were talking about it,” Jackson said.

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She was getting ready to turn onto Route 711 from 30 when the suspect and his car came barreling toward her.

"He came across and he must've seen me and it was about 10-15 feet away from me, he crossed back over the median I heard the car hitting that median as it went across,” Jackson said.

The chase lasted almost 20 miles from Hempfield township, all the way up Route 30 east, through Unity Township and Ligonier.

The driver hit one car at the intersection of Route 30 and 119, then came racing through a intersection of Nature Park Road and hit two more cars. After police put out spike strips, the suspect's back tire blew out.

The man behind the wheel was finally stopped with a PIT maneuver near Laurel Summit.

Jake Smallwood fought with police as he was taken into custody. He allegedly said he had been taking drugs over the last few days and appeared delusional.