SHADYSIDE — A Bellaire police officer was injured in a high speed chase that occurred on Ohio 7 between Bellaire and Shadyside on Thursday evening.

Bellaire police Chief Dick Flanagan said his officer’s cruiser allegedly was hit on purpose by the vehicle in the pursuit.

“One of my officers was in a cruiser with his lights and sirens on and got hit head-on intentionally. … (The suspect) was heading north on 7 and turns around and comes back. … He swerved to hit a deputy and then lined up to hit my guy,” Flanagan said this morning. “My officer went to the hospital with neck injuries, but he is going to be fine and he is going to recover.”

Flanagan said the officer was released from the hospital. This is the same officer who was off-duty in Jefferson County recently and tried to save people from a burning car that was involved in an accident, Flanagan said.

“He had a hold of one of the victims and couldn’t pull her out. His arm got burned. He is a good officer,” Flanagan said.

Flangan said in addition to his department’s cruiser, a Belmont County Sheriff’s Department vehicle also was struck during the pursuit. He said four civilian vehicles also were damaged.

Flanagan did not know the name of the pursuit driver, but believes that suspect and his passenger were both from Cleveland. He noted the chase began in Shadyside, came to Bellaire and then the driver turned around and drove south on Ohio 7 towards Shadyside.

“Keep in mind my these … dopers don’t (care),” Flanagan said. “They have no respect for themselves. How are they going to have respect for other people?”

The sheriff’s department is expected to release information about the incident today.