Mississippi Officer Injured in Fiery Pursuit Crash

A Richland, MS, police officer was seriously injured when his patrol car crashed during a pursuit Monday.

The incident began about 8:30 p.m. Monday when Officer Coty Hamilton tried to stop a 2008 Chevy Cobalt. Police officials said the driver of the Cobalt refused to stop when the officer turned on his lights and siren and continued to flee.

Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey shared a post on Facebook from John W. Hamilton, the father of Richland Officer Coty Hamilton, who said his son crashed into a tree and his patrol car burst into flames. John Hamilton said in the post that two officers pulled his son out of the burning vehicle.

Richland police officials told WAPT the injured officer was flown to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. John Hamilton said his son suffered broken bones and a head injury and was in the intensive care unit at UMMC.