At least two people were injured and two others are in custody after a vehicle pursuit and related crashes Monday morning along Interstate 70.

The Georgetown Police Department began the pursuit, which ended near mile marker 244, while investigating a vehicle theft, and arrested a man and a woman in connection with the case.

Charges are forthcoming, GPD confirmed, and the department will be looking at the initial theft to see whether it’s connected to others Clear Creek has experienced in recent months.

Georgetown Police Sgt. Jon Gaskins said he received a call about a vehicle stolen from a Georgetown residence between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Monday. Witnesses described the suspects’ vehicle as a white pickup truck, which was later seen at Alvarado Cemetery.  

Gaskins located the truck at the cemetery around 10:25 a.m. As the truck was leaving and driving toward Empire Junction, Gaskins said he tried to initiate a traffic stop and the truck didn’t stop.

Instead, the driver got onto I-70 at Empire Junction and continued past Idaho Springs and up Floyd Hill, Gaskins reported, saying the suspect vehicle attempted to ram him and others multiple times. At exit 247, the truck turned around and started driving west in the eastbound lanes, according to Gaskins.

Empire Police Chief John Stein, who was aiding in the pursuit, stated the oncoming truck caused a civilian vehicle to swerve and hit his police car. Stein reported that he and the civilian driver had both sustained minor injuries.

According to Gaskins, the truck wrecked out shortly after, around 10:40 a.m., as it was driving westbound in the shoulder of the eastbound lanes. He said he was unsure whether the truck hit the guidewire for a telephone pole or the pole itself. Both suspects reportedly fled on foot.

Gaskins said he located the female suspect near the bike path, and the Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Springs police and Colorado Parks & Wildlife found the male suspect in the woods nearby.

Eastbound I-70 was closed at exit 244 for approximately an hour Monday following the incident.