by Leah Justice

A police chase that began in Cleveland County on Monday, March 31 ended in a crash in Polk County along Hwy. 74 near Columbus.

The crash occurred around 5:45 p.m.

N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper G.F. McGraw said the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office was conducting a drug investigation and attempted to stop a vehicle with fake plates when the driver took off.

Cleveland County deputies continued to chase the vehicle, reportedly a Honda with two people inside, through Cleveland and Rutherford counties on Hwy. 74 west.

Once in Polk County, law enforcement deployed stop sticks around the 167-mile marker. The driver of the vehicle being chased tried to avoid the stop sticks, swerved and hit the sticks with one side of the car, lost control and hit a truck on the ramp near the exit, according to reports.

There were seven people inside the truck who were all taken to the hospital, according to reports.

The driver and the passenger inside the car involved in the chase were airlifted to Spartanburg Regional Hospital and as of late Monday were reported to be in serious condition.

Names of the suspects being chased or charges had been released as of press time Tuesday. Cleveland County will handle charges involved in the chase with the N.C. Highway Patrol investigating the crash in Polk County.