A man has been arrested on suspicion of drug driving after a police chase involving a horse box.
Officers first spotted the large white van being driven on a road in Bolton at around 11.40pm on Saturday.
But, when they tried to pull the driver over, the driver attempted to flee and was pursued on a chase which ended in a serious crash between the two vehicles on Thicketford Road a short time later.
The collision caused serious damage to the police car and the officer who was driving had to be cut out by firefighters before being taken to hospital with arm injuries.
A spokesperson for GMP has since confirmed that the driver of the horse box, a 42-year-old man, was arrested at the scene.
"At around 11.40pm on Saturday, August 1, a vehicle failed to stop when requested to by police in the Bolton area," she said.
"Officers engaged in a brief pursuit. A short time later, the vehicle and a police vehicle collided on Thicketford Road.
"The driver of the police vehicle was taken to hospital with arm injuries.
"A 42-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, driving whilst under the influence of drugs and failing to stop for a police officer."
Pictures from the aftermath of the crash show both vehicles were heavily damaged.
The horse box was knocked across the road and appeared to have hit a house opposite St Augustine's Parish Church.
The police car came to a stop at the Ainsworth Lane junction. Paramedics were called to treat the injured officer and firefighters from Bolton North Fire Station cut the vehicle's doors off.
Nobody else was injured in the crash.
The road was closed while paramedics helped the injured officer and the vehicles were removed from the scene.
Anyone with information about this incident can contact GMP on 101.
Alternatively, use the Live Chat feature at www.gmp.police.uk.
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