Billboards are damaged in the aftermath of a late-night, high-speed pursuit that ended with a suspect being transported by medical helicopter for treatment of injuries. T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A high-speed police pursuit in St. Clairsville on Tuesday night ended in a collision that resulted in two people being hospitalized.

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.

The driver, identified by the sheriff’s department as 30-year-old Christopher Coleman of Columbus, and passenger, identified as Jamey Kidder, 47, from Martins Ferry, were both hospitalized due to injuries sustained in the incident.

One of the suspects involved was transported by medical helicopter due to the severity of their injuries.

A press release regarding the incident states that detectives will be requesting felony charges at a later time. Sheriff David Lucas noted the case remains an ongoing investigation.