STOWE TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A police cruiser was badly damaged and nearly struck a group of children Sunday afternoon when it was involved in a crash during a pursuit in Stowe Township, Channel 11 News has learned.
The incident was reported shortly after noon in the area of Dohrman Street and Broadway Avenue. Police said a white Toyota Corolla that had been reported stolen in Pittsburgh was being chased at the time of the crash.
[ RAW: Surveillance of Stowe Township police cruiser crashing during chase ]
Surveillance video from a nearby business shows the cruiser barely missing four children standing on a sidewalk corner after it was struck by a van.
"There was like a group of kids that ran that way because they were on the sidewalk there. I'm like ‘Oh my God’ and it just got crazy after that," said Nina Welsh, who works at Lynn’s Café and witnessed the accident.
A Stowe Township police officer who was driving the cruiser was taken to a hospital as a precaution and has been treated and released, authorities said. All four children were uninjured.
Police are searching for the white vehicle with Pennsylvania registration JSD-1872 and the four people inside.
Investigators told Channel 11 News that the officer involved followed protocol. Police said the chase began when the officer had activated his cruiser's lights and sirens, but the driver refused to pull over.
“He did everything the way he was supposed to do. He did nothing incorrect,” Stowe Township Commissioner Kelly Cropper said.
Stay with Channel 11 News and WPXI.com for updates.