ESCONDIDO -- A man suspected of stealing a car and leading police on a chase was caught Friday morning after he crashed the car he was driving near Palomar Medical Center, officers said.

Police received a report of a stolen vehicle early Friday, then saw a maroon Honda Accord matching the description about 9:30 a.m., Sgt. John Johnson said.

Officers pursued the vehicle along East Valley Parkway near Citrus Avenue for a short time. For safety reasons, the officers stopped pursuing the speeding driver near San Pasqual Valley Road at Idaho Avenue, Johnson said.

The suspected car thief later crashed the car into a red Honda Accord on East Grand Avenue, causing that car to smack into a truck in front of it.

"I was just waiting for the light (at Valley Boulevard), and he smashed into me," said Robert DeLillo, as he waited for a tow truck, his car crumpled in the front and back.

The suspect, a 17-year-old Latino male, fled the scene toward the hospital. He was caught shortly after and taken into custody, Johnson said.

The suspect suffered a minor injury. No other injuries were reported.