Crash during a pursuit injures Jackson County deputy, bystander

A Jackson County sheriff's deputy pursuing a car allegedly with switched tags early Wednesday collided with another car, injuring the deputy and the innocent driver.

The crash happened by the QuikTrip near Blue Parkway/Missouri 350 Highway and East Gregory Boulevard in Raytown.

The pursuit began about 1:30 a.m. when a deputy attempted to stop a tan Buick near Blue Ridge Boulevard and Stark Avenue, according to a release form the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

The car allegedly had tags that didn't match the vehicle's registration, according to WDAF-TV.

The driver inside the car allegedly refused to stop when the deputy activated his lights and sirens and gave chase, according to the release.

When the chase reached southbound Interstate 435 near Interstate 70, a second deputy deployed a GPS tracker on the fleeing vehicle. Once the tracker activated, the deputies turned off their lights and sirens, ending the chase.

The deputies, however, continued to pursue the vehicle by following its route using the GPS tracking system. The agency doesn't consider that to be an active vehicle pursuit.

The Buick went eastbound on Missouri 350 from southbound Interstate 435.

While tracking the Buick, a deputy crashed into a blue Chevrolet Caprice near East Gregory Boulevard. The driver of the Caprice was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. The deputy sustained minor injuries, according to the sheriff's office.

The car involved in the chase was found abandoned near U.S. 40 and Interstate 70 in Independence, but the driver who fled the deputy wasn't there.

Shortly after 10 a.m., the sheriff's office said via Twitter that the driver had been taken into custody.

The Missouri Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

This story was originally published May 9, 2018 at 8:08 AM with the headline "Crash during a pursuit injures Jackson County deputy, bystander."