A suspected auto thief was critically injured early Friday morning after crashing a stolen car into a tree in Denair during a vehicle pursuit with the Turlock Police Department.

The incident began around 5:30 a.m. Friday in the area of N. Berkeley Avenue and Chandler Drive, when an officer spotted a 1994 Acura Integra being driven recklessly and attempted to pull the vehicle over.

The male driver stopped the car momentarily, but then sped away from the officer, said Turlock Police spokesperson Officer Mayra Lewis.

The pursuit made its way to Monte Vista Avenue, where the driver headed east towards Denair, Lewis said.

At the railroad crossing at Santa Fe Avenue, the car became airborne and when it came down it struck a tree near the intersection of Monte Vista Avenue and Story Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The male driver was critically injured and was taken by ambulance to Doctors Medical Center. His identity has not been confirmed and his name was not released.

The car was later determined to be stolen.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact the Officer Paul Heppner at 668-5550 extension 6748.