Police in Salem are looking for the driver of a truck that led officers on a chase through town which ended with a patrol car wrapped around a tree.

Salem Police

The officer's squad car took quite a beating during the chase.

Salem Police Officer Vance Cooney tried to pull over a black pickup truck driving recklessly on Vista Ave Se near High St around 10:00 a.m. Tuesday.

The driver of the truck didn’t pull over and a chase ensued.

A Police spokesperson said the truck passed a 2002 Jeep. When Officer Cooney tried to pass the Jeep’s driver turned into the patrol car.

The impact sent the squad scar spinning out of control. It knocked over a fire hydrant, then hit a tree.

The driver of the Jeep wasn’t hurt or cited. Officer Cooney suffered minor injuries.
Police were still looking for that black truck.