It all came to a head at Columbus Boulevard and Lombard Street around 2:00 p.m. Thursday when a green Ford van crashed into a pair of pursuing police cars.
The driver, trapped by surrounding traffic, was finally out of options. He was quickly arrested.
Witness John Stroup told Action News, "He tried to get away. There was a civilian car in front of him. He rammed him, and when he did that the cops jumped into the van and forced him out, got him to the ground."
Police say it began a short time earlier, north of Penn's Landing. Officers saw the vehicle being driven recklessly at Tulip and Venango Streets in Kensington and began what became a relatively low-speed pursuit.
The driver hopped on I-95 southbound trying to shake the cops, who by now were following in growing numbers.
The driver got off at Columbus and Lombard and headed north, hitting several civilian cars in addition to the police vehicles. Finally he was cornered.
Soon to be charged with DUI, he suffered some facial trauma, police say. No one else was injured.
"Right now, he's at the hospital under suspicion of DUI," said Philadelphia Police Lieutenant Jonathan Josey, adding that the investigation was still in its preliminary stages.
The suspect's name has not been released.
