Abbeville Police Pursuit Ends In Fiery Crash

ABBEVILLE, La. (AP) — Abbeville police say a man fleeing police with an escapee from a juvenile jail inside his car crashed into the Vermilion Parish Courthouse, causing his car to catch fire.

Lt. David Hardy tells The Advocate rescued from the burning car was the driver, Tawaski Lewis, who suffered a broken leg. Also emerging from the car was an unidentified juvenile who had escaped from juvenile detention and another man who was not identified.

Hardy says police were chasing Lewis and the others early Thursday morning because officers believed there were illegal drugs and weapons in the car. He said police later found a firearm on one of the streets where the chase occurred.

Hardy the chase ended when Lewis ran into a column on the west side of the courthouse.