Two police officers were taken to hospital after the driver plowed into their police car, sparking a huge inferno that engulfed the vehicle, while a man who “ran away from the scene” was arrested

Two police officers are in hospital after a driver drove into their police car and caught fire. A man who “ran away from the scene” is arrested.

The police car was on blue lights when a Volkswagen Passat collided with it in Prenton, Wirral, at around 8.55pm on Friday.

Both officers were able to exit the vehicle before the police car caught fire.

The driver of the VW is said to have “fled the scene of the accident”. He was found and taken to the hospital along with the two police officers.

According to Merseyside Police, the driver of the VW was released from hospital and subsequently arrested for failing to stop at the scene of the accident and failing to carry out a breath test at the scene.

Two police officers are in hospital after a driver plowed into their police car and it caught fire. A man who “ran away from the scene” is arrested

The police car was driving with its lights flashing when a Volkswagen Passat traveling at speed collided with it in Prenton, Merseyside

According to police, the officers involved were hospitalized with back and neck injuries.

Videos circulating on social media show the police vehicle burning on Woodchurch Road as people look on outside a nearby pub.

Eyewitnesses reported Liverpool Echo The police car crashed into a bollard before catching fire.

In a statement, a police spokesman said: “At around 8.55pm a marked police car, en route to an emergency operation with its flashing lights and siren on, was driving along Woodchurch Road when a gray Volkswagen Passat was traveling from the opposite direction. It collided with it at high speed with the police car, which then caught fire.

In a statement, a police spokesman said: “A gray Volkswagen Passat, traveling at high speed from the opposite direction, collided with the police car, which subsequently caught fire.”

“The driver of the Passat fled the scene after the collision and fortunately the two officers were able to get out of the police car before the fire broke out.”

The spokesman said investigations were ongoing and police were appealing for witnesses who saw the collision or anyone who may have dashcam footage to come forward.

Anyone with information can contact police via X, formerly known as Twitter, @MerPolCC or on the Merseyside Police Contact Center Facebook page quoting reference number 1200 of September 8.