DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM As a police officer watched, workers cleared debris and a downed traffic light yesterday at Pali Highway and School Street, where a police car had a collision during a pursuit.

Driver flees after trying to hit officer

A police car assisting in the chase collides with a flatbed truck

Police are looking for a man who escaped their capture yesterday during a car chase that included the attempted murder of a Honolulu Police Department officer and a collision between a police car and a flatbed truck.

An investigation of the collision has also been opened to check the officer's compliance of police pursuit rules.

The driver of the car is wanted on suspicion of first-degree attempted murder for reversing his car toward a police officer, who narrowly escaped from the path of the car, police said. The driver, a man in his 30s, was wearing a black baseball cap and had tattoos on both forearms.

"Someone attempted to murder a police officer," said Capt. Frank Fujii, Honolulu Police Department spokesman.

At about 10:20 a.m., police received a call about suspicious activity near the 200 block of Prospect Street. The caller reported two males and two females in a parked car possibly doing drugs, police said.

Two patrol officers responded and found the man in his 30s in a faded blue four-door sedan, possibly a Toyota. The patrol officers approached the vehicle on foot.

The man reversed his car, narrowly missing one officer. He rammed a police car three times, making an avenue for escape.

The man drove away toward Iolani Avenue, police said. Police momentarily lost sight of the car but located it moving near Ward Avenue and Beretania Street. Patrol officers pursued the car for several minutes through the Makiki area.

License plates on the sedan did not match the vehicle and were reported stolen earlier, police said.

A patrol officer assisting with the case headed west on School Street to intercept the vehicle, police said.

The officer approached Pali Highway and School Street. A commercial flatbed truck collided with the patrol officer's car at the intersection.

The driver of the truck escaped without injuries. The patrol officer, who has three years of service, was treated for minor injuries at the hospital and released.

The officer was not in direct pursuit of the vehicle, Fujii said. Both of the officer's sirens and lights were active before the collision, he said.

The driver of the sedan was able to break away and escape. Police were still looking for the man yesterday.