2 Pennsylvania State Police cars crash while pursuing shoplifting suspect in Delaware County, sources say
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Two Pennsylvania State Police vehicles crashed while pursuing at least one shoplifting suspect in Delaware County Tuesday afternoon, sources with Upper Darby and Haverford police told CBS News Philadelphia.
The chase started after a shoplifting incident at the Promenade at Granite Run, formerly known as Granite Run Mall, in Middletown Township. The pursuit, which sources said lasted eight miles, led officers to chase the suspect northbound on Route 1 from Middletown Township to Drexel Hill, eventually leading to two separate crashes.
The first crash happened near State and Rolling roads in Springfield and the second crash happened near Burmont and Township Line roads in Drexel Hill. The crash scenes are less than a mile away from each other.
BREAKING-This is @JoeHoldenCBS3 reporting Upper Darby / Haverford PD confirm 2 state police vehicles crashed while pursuing a shoplifting suspect; one happened near State and Rolling Rds., another at Burmont and Township Line Rds. Unknown on injuries. Police say suspect took off.
— CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) April 30, 2024
Investigators told CBS Philadelphia nobody was injured in the crashes.
It's unclear at this time how many people were in the cars at the time of the crashes.
The alleged shoplifting suspect took off, police sources said.
This chase comes less than a week after three adults and a pregnant teenager died in a fiery crash as police pursued their vehicle in connection with retail thefts in Concord Township, Delaware County, according to investigators.
Last week's pursuit went on for seven miles along Route 322.
Those who work near Tuesday's crash scenes are worried about safety in their neighborhood.
"It's crazy because there's a school zone and it's been a work zone for the past week," Allison Murtaugh said. "Kids get out of school. It's a church, like I said it's a work zone 15 mph on top of the school zone. So they could've killed somebody on top of themself."
State police have yet to respond to CBS Philadelphia's request for comment.