Driver of stolen car rams Tamaqua cruiser, crashes in West Penn

A driver of a stolen car crashed early Thursday morning in West Penn Township after ramming a police car in Tamaqua.

The incident began shortly before 1 a.m. when Coaldale police ran a registration of a vehicle and discovered it was stolen out of Fountain Hill near Bethlehem.

Police attempted to make a stop, but the 19-year-old driver continued through Coaldale south on Route 209.

Tamaqua police joined the pursuit as he entered their borough. The suspect turned onto Route 309 south with West Penn joining the chase as he entered their township.

As the chase was heading  south the suspect rammed the Tamaqua police car.

The pursuit came to an end when the driver lost control on the Ridge Cup hill near the intersection with Ridge Cup Road, rolling the van with it coming to rest on its wheels.

The suspect was treated at the scene by members of the Tamaqua ambulance before being transported to St. Luke's Hospital in Coaldale.

No officers were injured in the incident. 

PHOTO COPYRIGHT LARRY NEFF/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS