A Spartanburg man who had been placed under arrest and handcuffed behind his back somehow stole a Gaffney police cruiser Wednesday morning and led police on a high-speed chase that ended with a crash into another motorist. 

The accident shut down Highway 18 near the Burns automobile dealership for several hours after the crash as investigators marked, measured and combed practically every square foot of the crash site. 

The crash occurred at 2:19 a.m., according to Trooper Bill Elder of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Elder said the suspect, Ronnie Tijuan Martin, 36, lost control of the 2009 Dodge police cruiser, crossed the center line and struck a 2007 Honda, driven by Janice Downey, 62, of Gaffney. 

Martin was ejected from the vehicle and both drivers were taken to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. As of  11 a.m. Wednesday, a hospital spokesman said Martin was listed in serious condition and that Downey was listed in fair condition. 

Chief Rick Turner of the Gaffney Police Department issued the following information in a press release Wednesday after press deadline for the printed edition of  The Gaffney Ledger: 

"On Wednesday, June 23, 2010, at approximately 2:12 a.m., officers from the City of Gaffney Police Department were conducting a public safety checkpoint at the intersection of W. Floyd Baker Blvd. and Beltline Road.

Subject Ronnie Tijuan Martin, 36, was stopped at checkpoint and was suspected of driving impaired. Subject was administered standard field sobriety test and was placed under arrest for DUI. 

Subject was handcuffed behind his back and placed in the rear seat of the officer's vehicle. Officers returned to subject’s vehicle to secure the vehicle and passenger when they saw that the subject had opened the rear door of the police vehicle and was getting into the front driver’s seat. 

Subject had managed to lower the rear door window and reach outside and open the rear door. Officers ran toward vehicle and attempted to open door as the subject sped away. 

One officer received minor injury to ankle in the attempt to stop the subject. Other officers on scene pursued the subject traveling east on Floyd Baker Boulevard, then turning north on Logan Street. Pursuit continued onto Hwy 18/N. Limestone Street. 

Subject ran off road several times striking a pole and curb causing one or more tires to deflate. Subject then traveled further down Hwy 18 and then traveled into the oncoming lane into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Subject attempted to swerve and lost control spinning around striking the oncoming vehicle.

Subject was ejected from vehicle before it came to rest in roadway. After impact, the victim's vehicle came to a stop off side of roadway. Pursuing officers immediately requested EMS and rendered aid to victim in other vehicle and subject. 

EMS and Fire Department arrived and assumed care of victim and subject. 

Subject facing multiple charges including: DUI, Escape, Grand Larceny, Failure to Stop for Blue Lights, Poss. of Stolen Gun (found in subject's original vehicle) Poss. of Narcotics (found on subject's person)."

A call placed to Turner for more information was directed to the press release and to the South Carolina Highway Patrol. 

The South Carolina Department of Transportation set up a detour on Highway 18 as the stretch of highway where the crash occurred was closed down to allow members of the Highway Patrol's Multi-Discimplinary Accident Investigation Team to examine the site.

The crash investigators spent numerous hours at the scene taking measurements of every gouge in the roadway and the location of debris from the crash. 

More information will be made available online and in print as it becomes available. 

(Ledger Publisher Cody Sossamon contributed to this report)