At about 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning in the 1400 block of Elizabeth Street., Jefferson City police were observing a parked vehicle believed to be involved in area narcotics trafficking.
After officers watched activity in and around the vehicle for some time, two persons got into the vehicle and left the area, the officer following behind.
Noticing the vehicle had expired tags, the officer attempted to stop the driver near the intersection of Myrtle and Swifts Highway, but the driver of the vehicle failed to yield, and a pursuit began.
The pursuit continued westbound on Swifts Highway, then northbound on Southwest Boulevard.
At the intersection of Southwest and Missouri Boulevards, the passenger in the vehicle opened his door as if attempting to bail out of the vehicle, but the vehicle continued instead eastbound on Missouri at a high rate of speed.
The pursuit continued until the suspect vehicle attempted to make a right to travel onto westbound U.S 54, when the driver appeared to lock up his brakes, skidding into a tractor trailer that was stopped at 54 and Missouri.
Due to injuries to the driver and passenger, Jefferson City Fire Department personnel and Cole County EMS were summoned to the scene.
Both were taken by EMS to area hospitals for treatment.
The driver, Bruce Dudenhoeffer, 33, Jefferson City, was arrested for suspicion of intoxicated driving, driving while revoked, second- degree assault, an outstanding warrant out of Callaway County and possession of methamphetamine and narcotics paraphernalia.
The passenger, Justin Thurston,29, Jefferson City, was arrested for a Cole County warrant, as well as possession of methamphetamine and narcotics paraphernalia.
The driver of the tractor trailer was not hurt, nor was the pursuing officer.