(KRON) -- An elderly driver was severely injured Sunday after his car was struck by a Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was pursuing street racers in Santa Rosa, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP responded to the crash at 5:52 p.m. on Santa Rosa Avenue near Friedman’s Home Improvement. According to the preliminary investigation, the sheriff’s deputy was driving south in his K-9 patrol unit with the emergency lights flashing when a white Ford Focus pulled out of the Friedman’s parking lot and into the roadway.

(Photo: CHP Santa Rosa)

“The deputy swerved left to avoid the Ford but was unable to, and the patrol car collided with the front left side of the Ford,” CHP said.

The Ford driver was hospitalized with major injuries, according to authorities. The deputy suffe

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