FAYETTE COUNTY — A police chase ended in a traffic crash on westbound Interstate 70 near the Brownstown exit early Friday night.

According to Illinois State Police, a St. Elmo Police officer attempted to stop a vehicle around 6:15 Friday night after reportedly seeing gunfire coming from the car as it passed him.

The juvenile driver allegedly fled the stop at a high rate of speed and ultimately lost control of the vehicle on I-70 near the Brownstown exit and struck a guardrail head-on.

The squad car attempted to slow and swerved to avoid striking the juvenile’s vehicle which was partially in the left lane facing the wrong direction.

However, the officer couldn’t avoid a crash and struck the rear passenger side of the juvenile’s car and guardrail simultaneously.

St. Elmo police say a firearm and casings were recovered from the vehicle.

The juvenile driver and a passenger in the car, 19-year-old Cliff Edwards of Centreville, were transported by Rural Med EMS to the Fayette County Hospital in Vandalia for serious but not life-threatening injuries.

The officer was also transported to Fayette County Hospital but was later released.

Charges are pending investigation.