Deputy injured when squad car goes airborne during pursuit in Charlotte, officials say

A sheriff’s deputy was injured while taking evasive measures to avoid colliding with a suspect’s fleeing vehicle in Charlotte, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office says.

The deputy’s identity and details of the injuries have not been released.

Investigators say the crash happened just after 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, near the intersection of Interstate 85 and W. Mallard Creek Church Road in northeast Charlotte.

“The MCSO deputy was completing a traffic stop when a vehicle drove by at a high rate of speed,” the sheriff’s office reported in a news release.

“As our deputy attempted to stop the driver, the driver hit another car causing minor damage before fleeing. ... To avoid a collision, our deputy swerved, causing their patrol vehicle to go airborne.”

The deputy suffered “a non-life-threatening injury that will require surgery,” and is expected to recover, the sheriff’s office said.

The suspect escaped and remains at large.

“We appreciate the swift response of first responders,” the sheriff’s office said.