Update: Suspect Identified In Police Chase That Ended In Fiery Crash

A police chase in Joplin Saturday night came to a fiery end.

The chase began in east Joplin when a Joplin Police officer attempted to stop a vehicle and it fled.

The suspect drove through a yard and drove at the officer. A chase began. Joplin Police Captain Trevor Duncan says it all ended near 5th and Michigan.

“The vehicle lost control and crashed,” Duncan says.  “When the vehicle crashed, it basically broke a gas main.”

“There was gas spewing out of the line,” Captain Duncan continues. The vehicle caught fire. The officer was able to remove the driver from the car and drag him to safety.”

Duncan says the driver, now identified as 26-year-old Torray Claypole of New Orleans, Louisiana apparently was in violation of his probation by being out-of-state and was trying to elude authorities for that reason.

The Claypole was transported to the hospital for several broken bones. The investigation continues.