PORT ORCHARD — A 29-year-old Bremerton man was injured Dec. 4 when his vehicle crashed into a mailbox and utility pole as he sped northbound on State Highway 3.

He was allegedly fleeing Port Orchard police and Washington State Patrol troopers.

At about 3:34 a.m., near the Rodeo Drive-In — a little over five miles south of Port Orchard — the driver’s 1999 Acura Integra was traveling at a high rate of speed when troopers deployed spike strips to slow his escape. According to a state patrol report, the driver swerved his vehicle to miss the strips, causing him to lose control and leave the roadway, where he collided with the mailbox and utility pole. Troopers said the Integra was totaled in the crash.

The suspect was taken to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, then transported to Tacoma General Hospital.

State patrol reported that the southbound lane of Highway 3 was blocked for about eight hours while troopers investigated. Puget Sound Energy closed the southbound lane for an additional two hours for repairs, WSP said.

The injured driver’s medical condition wasn’t immediately known. Troopers said it also wasn’t apparent whether the driver had been under the influence of drugs or alcohol.