Wrong way driver crashes during police chase in east Harris County

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A police chase ends in a crash in east Harris County after a driver goes the wrong way.

Deputies say 49-year-old Travis Lawrence was going northbound on the southbound lanes of the Beltway 8 feeder road near I-10 around 9:30 a.m. The deputy quickly ran the plates and discovered the red pickup truck was stolen and began chase.

At one point, authorities say the driver almost hit an officer. The chase ended with a crash on Dell Dale and Woodforest.

According to Precinct 3 deputies the suspect crashed into a van after he drove the wrong direction for over half a mile. Authorities say despite the accident, the driver did not give up. We're told the suspect got out of the stolen vehicle and tried to get away on foot and that's where a responding deputy hit him with his patrol car.

The two passengers in the van were checked out in the hospital and have since been released. Deputies told us the chase could have been much worse.

"That's very dangerous when two vehicles meet head-on, the speed is of course doubled -- it's just the worst accident," said a deputy at the scene. "It could've been a lot worse. We are just thankful it was one accident."

Authorities say Lawrence is no stranger to the law. Authorities discovered he currently has two open warrants for robbery and evading. He'll face more charges after today's incident.