Crawford County Deputy Carl Kasparek was taken to a hospital in La Crosse after the police car he was riding in crashed during a pursuit that began near Eastman.

Kasparek and the driver, Deputy Sheriff Russell Wittrig, were chasing an unidentified person in a pick-up truck just after midnight Sunday morning when the accident occurred.

The officers were patrolling Highway 27 south of Eastman when they encountered the speeding truck. As the officers attempted to make a traffic stop, the truck driver turned onto Gran Grae Road. The pursuit continued for about two miles until Wittrig was unable to negotiate a curve in the road. The Ford Crown Victoria Police Cruiser struck an embankment, rolled over and hit a tree before coming to rest on it’s top. Wittrig and Kasparek escaped through the passenger side window. Wittrig reported minor injuries.

The unknown pick-up truck driver escaped. The truck is believed to be dark colored.

Authorities are encouraging anyone with information about the identity of the truck’s driver to contact the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department or Crawford County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-779-PAYS.