Police said a Salem driver fled from authorities Wednesday morning, leading them on a high-speed chase that ended when the vehicle crashed into a cement barrier in Keizer, narrowly missing a pair of bystanders.

Eric Phillips, 25, at about 9 a.m. Wednesday fled from officers who attempted to pull him over for speeding, according to a Keizer Police Department press release. While fleeing, Phillips allegedly reached speeds in excess of 70 mph, prompting the motorcycle officer to end the pursuit and lose sight of the vehicle.

Just “seconds later,” police said, authorities received a report of a vehicle that had crashed into a building in the 3300 block of River Road North. Investigators later determined Phillips had lost control of his vehicle and crashed into cement barriers in front of a business.

“When the collision with the barriers occurred, at least two individuals were standing on the other side of them, directly in the path of the Mercedes,” police wrote in the press release. “Those individuals were not injured.”

Police said Phillips then fled the scene on foot, but soon was located hiding in some bushes on Plymouth Drive Northeast. Phillips did not report injuries, but a 24-year-old passenger in his car, whom authorities did not publicly identify, reported minor injuries that did not require medical treatment.

Phillips was arrested on three counts of reckless endangering and charges of reckless driving, hit and run, eluding, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine and first-degree criminal mischief.

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