It began just after midnight Thursday on Allegheny Avenue near E Street where officers noticed a vehicle make a traffic violation.
The officers moved closer and that's when the car took off, fleeing southbound on I-95.
The police lost the fleeing car, but when they got off the next exit they found the car parked near Girard and Susquehanna.
The driver then revved the engine, striking the officer's vehicle head-on.
The driver, identified as 35-year-old Alberto Santana of the 3600 block of Darien Street, was arrested for DUI, simple assault and other offenses.
