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A high-speed police chase on a wet Pali Highway last night ended with a multi-car accident, the arrest of a suspect in a stolen car, and one man in the hospital, traffic investigators said.
A 24-year-old Waipahu man is in custody for car theft, reckless driving, failure to stop and other offenses.
Police are still looking for a female passenger who fled on foot after the crash.
Honolulu Police Department spokeswoman Maj. Janna Mizuo said the incident began when a police lieutenant tried to make a traffic stop in Kailua and the suspect fled.
The suspect, driving a blue 1994 Honda Accord, got on the Pali Highway with two police vehicles in pursuit.
Police said the Honda rear-ended a white 2007 Toyota Corolla driven by a 53-year-old Honolulu man in the center lane of the highway near Wood Street in Nuuanu just before 7 p.m.
The Corolla swerved onto the right shoulder, flipped on its side and hit a traffic signal pole and light pole, police said.
The Honda crashed into the median and the driver and a female passenger fled on foot.
Police said one of the police cars stopped and the officer pursued and arrested the suspect.
But the second police car rear-ended the first police vehicle, and the force of the collision sent it into the back of the Honda.
A third vehicle, a 2002 red Honda CRV, also ended up on the shoulder and was damaged by a falling light pole, police said.
The 53-year-old driver of the Corolla went to the hospital in serious condition. The suspect was also treated and released from the hospital.
All the drivers involved in the crash were wearing seat belts, police said.
Police shut down all Honolulu-bound lanes of the Pali Highway while they investigated the incident.
