Police chase ends in deadly, fiery crash in Montco

RED HILL, Pa. (WPVI) -- A police chase ended in tragedy in Red Hill, Pennsylvania, when an officer could not save a driver trapped in a fiery crash.

The incident occurred around 1 a.m. Saturday on the 300 block of Main Street.

Authorities say an officer attempted to pull over a car without a license plate in Marlborough Township, but the driver sped away.

There was a short chase, but the officer called it off, and asked the state police to take over.

As the officer waited for the state police, he heard an explosion, police say. He went to investigate, and found the vehicle involved in the chase wrapped around a utility pole, and on fire.

The officer went to his patrol car to get a fire extinguisher, and when he returned, police say he tried to battle the intense flames, but was beaten back by the flames and smoke.

Police say the officer made several attempts to rescue the trapped driver, but that person died in the fiery wreck.

The officer was taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

The driver's name has not been released.