Two Injured In Abington Rollover Crash

ABINGTON (CBS) -- Two men were injured when their SUV hit a utility pole on Route 18 after a brief chase early Wednesday morning.

Police said an officer saw a Toyota Rav4 speed past him in Independence Square in Weymouth around 2 a.m., and then pulled the SUV over on Main Street at Shea Memorial Drive. The SUV took off when the officer got out of his cruiser.

After a pursuit, the officer lost sight of the SUV near the Weymouth-Abington line, but moments later saw the transformer atop a utility pole explode and drove to the location to investigate. When he arrived at the pole, he found the SUV had hit it and flipped on its side.

Both men in the SUV, driver Jevaun A. Jacques, 24 of Dorchester, and a 26-year-old man, got out of the car themselves and were taken to South Shore Hospital conscious and alert. Jacques suffered potential life-threatening injuries. He was found to be driving with a suspended license.

Police said Jacques told them he thought there was a warrant out for him, and said he did not want to go to jail, as his birthday is next week.

Jacques was issued a citation at the hospital, charging him with operating after license suspension, failure to stop for police, operating to endanger, and speeding. The vehicle had been entered as stolen out of Brockton, but was later determined to have been loaned to Jacques and not stolen.

The crash caused several power outages in the area, including at Abington Fire Department headquarters.