ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Detectives with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Interdiction Unit conducted a traffic stop Tuesday as part of an ongoing investigation. The vehicle in question allegedly fled, leading detectives on a high-speed pursuit.

The pursuit abruptly ended with the suspects’ vehicle crashing into a billboard on U.S. 40 in St. Clairsville. Both occupants of the vehicle were hospitalized, and one was transported by medical helicopter due to severe injuries.