A wild chase between a car thief and the car's owner on the streets of New Brunswick, New Jersey, took out several cars along the way, including police vehicles, and injured two people, police say.
Police got involved at about 12:30 p.m. as a 22-year-old suspect tried to flee in a stolen 2008 black Kia SUV while being chased by the Kia's owner, who was in a red Volvo, near Neilson and Paterson streets, police said.
When the suspect hit traffic on Church Street, he reversed in the Kia and rammed into the Volvo behind him, according to police. Officers tried to stop him there, but the suspect took off again, driving in an "erratic and elusive" manner.
The suspect encountered more traffic at George Street, and he cut across the sidewalk to try to escape police, authorities said. He continued down the street, hitting two police cars and two private cars along the way.
The chase finally ended near Albany Street, where the suspect, Robert White Jr. of New Brunswick, was taken into custody.
Two people in one of the struck civilian cars had minor injuries and were treated on scene by EMS.
"It was lucky no one got hurt more than that," said Kartik Patel, manager of the BurgerFi restaurant near the crash scene.
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Cellphone video taken by Brian Kelly, a customer inside a Starbucks on George Street, showed people huddling after the crash, thinking they'd heard gunshots.
"Everyone dropped down to the floor, I'd say for a minute and a half until everything was clear," said Dave Nowinsky.
White was charged with eluding, assault by auto, receiving stolen property and numerous traffic violations.
