A Temple police officer, an off-duty Paris, TX police officer, and the latter man's sons pulled two people from a burning car Friday night after a suspect led police on a high-speed chase that resulted in a crash.

The Temple officer attempted to stop a car in the 100 bock of N. 27th St. for a traffic violation around 10 PM. The driver refused to stop and sped through several red lights and intersections before entering northbound I-35.

The pursuing officer reported that the suspect's vehicle was weaving in and out of traffic, and he decided to end his pursuit. However, as he was issuing a description of the suspect's vehicle, he noticed the car veer off the highway and crash into the median, roll, and settle on its passenger side.

As the officer approached the scene, the driver climbed out of the vehicle and ran, making it about 100 yards before being captured. The suspect, 33-year-old Leo Anderson of Temple, was arrested for evading arrest with a vehicle. Police also found an illegal substance that Anderson attempted to throw away while fleeing. They have not said what it was.

During the pursuit on foot, the suspect's vehicle caught fire. Temple officer Justin Smith, off-duty Paris, TX officer Doug Murphy, and Murphy's sons pulled two passengers - a man and a woman - out of the vehicle. Both were transported to Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple with non-life threatening injuries.

 

More From KUSJ-FM