A brave have-a-go hero has been ploughed down by van during a botched robbery, police say.
The victim, who is in his 50s, has been dashed to hospital for emergency treatment suffering with serious injuries. They aren't thought to be life-threatening at this stage.
It is understood he was in a car pursuing the van thieves in a dramatic chase.
Shocked witnesses say a police helicopter is hovering above the crash scene in Middleton, Leeds, in an attempt to catch two suspects thought to be on the run.
Photos show multiple police cars at the scene, and a cordon has been set up.
"At 1.29pm today (2/7) police were called to an incident in Thorpe Lane, Middleton, where a man had been seriously injured after being run over by a van," a West Yorkshire Police spokesman said.
"The victim, a man in his fifties, has been taken to hospital for emergency treatment. His injuries are described as serious but are not currently believed to be life threatening.
"Initial enquiries suggest the van had been stolen a short time before from Thorpe Crescent and the injured man and others had pursued it in a car and confronted the thieves near to the junction with Thorpe Mount.
"A scene and road closure is currently in place in Thorpe Lane and the police helicopter has been searching neighbouring fields for the two suspects who ran off from the scene.
"Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Leeds District CID via 101 quoting log number 888 of July 2."
The road, part of the A654, remains closed as detectives investigate.
It connects Tingley, West Yorkshire, in the south and eventually reaches Oulton, Leeds, in the east.
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