A massive police chase after a driver who drove off from a petrol station without paying ended in a major crash on the A12 and two people being taken to hospital.

According to news agency Novum, the incident began when the driver of a silver BMW left a petrol station on the A1 near Muiden without paying.

The car was spotted on the A4 but ignored a police sign to halt and after driving at the police officer signalling it to stop, swerved and went off at high speed. Police then gave chase.

As the chase continued on the A12, the BMW ploughed into another car, which flipped over. A passenger in that car was taken to hospital. A woman in the BMW was also hospitalised and the driver arrested.

Police say they were 100m to 200m behind the BMW when the crash happened.

Investigation

An investigation has now begun into the cause of the crash. Police say the fact the car tried to hit a police officer would indicate ‘more was up’ than simple petrol theft, Novum said.

The A12 where the crash happened was closed until well into the evening.

The police were heavily criticised in 2011 when they caused a deliberate traffic jam in an effort to catch a petrol thief. One man died in the ensuing crash.