EASTHAMPTON — A car chase led to Easthampton police investigating incidents involving stolen vehicles, including the one that crashed into street signs and a utility pole early Friday morning before the driver fled the scene.
Around 2:30 a.m., Officer Jared Pabis saw the vehicle speeding 62 mph on Glendale Street, the Easthampton Police Department posted on Facebook. As Pabis followed, the vehicle sped away. It crashed into a utility pole, street signs and a tree before officers located the vehicle at the rotary on Main Street. Police say the operator fled the scene.
Officers contacted the owners of the vehicle, who were not aware their car had been stolen. It was last parked in their driveway.
During the investigation, Officer Luis Rivera ran the plate of a suspicious vehicle parked in the area and discovered the car had been reported stolen Thursday out of Westfield.
A third vehicle was stolen from Easthampton’s downtown area overnight Friday, police say.
Officer Chad Alexander said police cannot confirm if the motor vehicle thefts are related, and that the investigation is still underway.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.