Police Pursuit Ends In Crash, Fire In Reading

READING (CBS) – Police say a "disturbed individual" had to be rescued after his car flipped over and caught on fire after a pursuit in Reading Monday night.

Officers in North Reading started the chase after they received numerous 911 calls about a man acting erratic and blocking traffic. The man, who police have not identified, was allegedly acting strange in a car that had abruptly stopped at Rt. 28 and Rt. 62 at about 6:30 p.m.

Police arrived to find the 67-year-old man from York, Maine "screaming and pulling at his hair, exhibiting bizarre behavior."

The man drove away and officers pursued him for about a mile. Police say speeds were as low as 5 mph during stretches, before he sped up, veered off the road and struck a pole.

The car flipped and caught on fire. The driver, who faces several charges, was rescued by police and firefighters and transported to the hospital where he is undergoing a mental evaluation.