Two people were taken to hospital after concern for a girl sparked a police chase in Kirkcaldy.
Officers were called to Templehall Avenue at around 9.30am on Thursday.
They were responding to a report of concern for a female youth.
Almost six hours later, the car she was believed to have been travelling in was spotted on Overton Road.
After a short pursuit by road policing officers, the car crashed on Midfield Road – two miles from the original report at Templehall Avenue.
A 17-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man were taken to Victoria Hospital.
The 21-year-old man was arrested in connection with breach of bail.
Midfield Road sealed off after crash
Police sealed off Midfield Road on the Mitchelston Industrial Estate after the crash.
Locals reported seeing several police vehicles in the area.
A witness said a car crashed into bushes at the side of the road.
Officers closed part of the northern end of Midfield Road, covering both sides of Muirhead Road, at 3pm.
Traffic was directed away from the area.
A forklift truck was requested from a nearby engineering firm at around 4.15pm to pull the stricken car from the bushes it had become entangled in.
It was then transported to nearby premises for further police inspection.
The road remained closed as police continued their investigation.
One woman told The Courier up to 10 police cars, including unmarked vehicles, raced to the scene down Carberry Road.
She said: “I was working away and then all of a sudden heard a car whizz past with its sirens on, which is unusual in itself as there isn’t usually a lot of police activity here.
“But then all of a sudden there were about 5 to 10 police cars all speeding past, including unmarked ones.
“I wondered what was going on but just hope no one is seriously hurt.
“But it is quite terrifying when that stuff happens – gets you thinking if it’s anything really serious.”
Kirkcaldy worker sees big police presence
A worker told The Courier he was first made aware of the incident when he heard “multiple sirens’”.
”It was shortly after 3pm as the schools were finishing,” he said.
“I heard multiple sirens and looked outside to see what it was and saw maybe six or seven police cars in Midfield Road.
“I’ve never seen so many police in one place.
“Officers were on the road and all around the bushes.
“I was told by an officer that a car had gone off the road and crashed.
“Midfield Road was closed off and I was told to move away.
“I am just thankful this happened on what is a wide and straight road and not further up where it’s busy with schoolchildren.”
A Police Scotland statement said: “Around 9.30am on Thursday, 12 September, 2024, we were called to a report of concern for a female youth in the Templehall Avenue area of Kirkcaldy.
“Extensive enquiries were carried out and the car she was believed to be travelling in was traced in the Overton Road area around 3.20pm and failed to stop for officers.
“Following a short pursuit by road policing officers, the car crashed on Midfield Road.
“A 17-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man were taken to Victoria Hospital as a precaution.
“The 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with breach of bail.”
