He was driving a stolen SUV.
Frederick Police are investigating a vehicle chase Thursday morning which ended in a crash with the driver being taken to the hospital.
Authorities say an officer tried to stop a black Mercades SUV in the area of South Carroll Street for a motor vehicle violation at around 12:30 AM, but the operator continued on.
The driver lost control of the SUV along in the roundabout near Monocacy Boulevard. The vehicle struck a tree, rolled over several times before leaving the roadway, and came to rest in the wood line.
Police say the driver was not inside when officers approached. A search was conducted, and two hours later the operator was found unconscious, buried deep inside a thicket of vines and foliage near a larger boulder. He was thought to have been ejected from the SUV, but investigators learned later that he walked away from the crash site and fell unconscious.
The man was taken to Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown by ambulance with life-threatening injuries. He's listed in stable condition. His name is being withheld pending the outcome of the investigation and notification of next of kin.
Due the severity of the driver's injuries, a section of Monocacy Boulevard in that area was closed for accident reconstruction.
Police say the driver was an employee of Monocacy Motors and had stolen the vehicle he was driving. Dealer tags were still on the SUV.
Police say charges are pending against the driver.
