A motorcyclist and his pillion rider were yesterday hospitalised after their cycle crashed in a wall of the Sandy Gully bridge on Molynes Road in Kingston during a high-speed chase by the police.

Police said the rider of the motorcycle was signalled to stop by the police who were doing a spot check along Washington Boulevard, but ignored the order, turned around and started to speed away shortly before 11:00.

“Other police units joined the chase in order to stop the reckless riding by the suspects,” said Detective Inspector Altimonth Campbell of the Hunts Bay Police Station. He added that the motorcycle was swaying from side to side through the traffic in order to evade the cops.

With the police in pursuit, the rider of the high-powered motorcycle made a sharp turn onto Molynes Road, when they crashed on reaching the Sandy Gully bridge. Both riders were flung from the motorcycle, which skidded several metres before coming to a halt.

“One of the men sustained a fractured leg and the other received multiple injuries,” said Inspector Campbell. “They were then taken to the hospital for treatment.”

Persons claiming to be eyewitnesses claimed that the men were hit off the motorcycle by the driver of the bus that was transporting the police officers. They also claimed that the men were shot at by the police.

“Them police too wicked,” said Damion French, who claimed that the driver of the police bus hit the motorcycle to get it to stop.

Another man, who also said he was a witness, said the men were kicked by the police following the fall.

Campbell, however, rejected reports that gunshots were fired at the men. “Contrary to what eyewitnesses said we fired in the air in order to stop the men from getting away, but we never shot at them,” he said. “Of course we fired shots, but not at them,” he added.

In the meantime, the police inspector said the men are believed to be involved in several murders in the Corporate Area.

He added that the same motorcycle was used in several robberies, adding up to thousands of dollars.

The identities of the two men have been withheld, pending investigations, but both will face an identification parade as soon as they are able to, Campbell said.