Cedar Rapids city worker suffers life threatening injuries in crash

CEDAR RAPIDS - A City of Cedar Rapids Water Division employee has life threatening injuries after his city vehicle was hit broadside by a fleeing suspect Friday morning.

Authorities have not identified the 35-year-old employee or the 47-year-old man who led police on a minute-long chase that ended with the collision.

According to Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman Greg Buelow, at 8:39 a.m. Friday, an officer attempted to pull over the 47-year-old suspect for a registration violation near 10th Street and Eighth Avenue SW. Rather than stop, police said the suspect fled through the Hawkeye Oil parking lot and continued eastbound on Eighth Avenue SW.

Police said the suspect turned right into the 800 block alley between 8th and 9th streets, proceeded onto the train tracks and came out behind 1041 10th Street SW. He then turned onto Ninth Street SW and sped southbound on 9th, police said.

Buelow said the officer, who was more than a block behind the suspect, witnessed the suspect run a stop sign at 15th Avenue and again at 16th Avenue. When the suspect ran the stop sign at Ninth Street and 16th Avenue, he collided with the city vehicle, which had been eastbound on 16th Avenue.

The city employee was thrown from the vehicle, Buelow said. Buelow said he was not aware if the city employee was wearing a seat belt.

The entire six-block chase lasted one minute.

'It was very quick,” Buelow said.

Buelow said he does not know what speeds the pursuit reached or why the suspect was fleeing.

'My understanding is he did not have any outstanding warrants at this time,” Buelow said, adding he was unaware if there was anything illegal in the vehicle.

The suspect driver suffered non-life threatening injuries and was treated at a hospital. Buelow said charges are pending in the case.