Stolen vehicle strikes deputy's police cruiser, driver escapes on foot

A Cherokee County Sheriff's Deputy escaped injury when his cruiser was struck by the driver of a stolen vehicle late Monday night.

An apartment in Connecticut Village, however, sustained some damage when the stolen vehicle hit the building.

According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, which is investigating the incident, Deputy James Haggard was in the area of the East Junior High Road apartment complex at about 11:50 p.m. when he saw a 1997 GMC pickup driving recklessly, spinning its tires.

The pickup ended up striking the rear bumper of the deputy's Ford Crown Victoria cruiser and then traveled out of the parking lot and into the apartment complex building.

Lance Cpl. Brian McDougald of the S.C. Highway Patrol said the driver of the truck then fled on foot. To his knowledge, the driver of the truck had not been arrested as of Tuesday afternoon.

McDougald did not have an immediate estimate on the amount of property damage caused to the apartment building.

While the title to the truck came back clear shortly after the crash, a report from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office shows the GMC pickup subsequently was reported building.

stolen from Washington

Avenue.

The theft occurred sometime after 9 p.m. Monday, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.

McDougald said investigations are continuing.