Pennsylvania State Police confirmed five occupants fled into a wooded area along Kriebel Road near Fischer's Park in Towamencin Township Friday morning after abandoning a stolen, damaged SUV, but all were taken into custody without incident.
Police said helicopter assistance was called in for the search, and a perimeter was established with help from local law enforcement, including Towamencin and Lower Salford township authorities.
The heavily-damaged SUV was abandoned in the driveway of a home on Kriebel Road, according to witnesses at the scene.
Police said around 7 a.m. Friday, a trooper with Troop T out of King of Prussia was following the SUV on the Northeast Extension, as it was reported stolen out of Philadelphia.
The SUV exited the turnpike and headed in the direction of Pennsylvania State Police Skippack barracks via Forty Foot Road/Bustard Road, police said.
Skippack troopers were notified and were waiting to initiate a traffic stop until backup arrived, police said. The driver of the SUV got scared and started speeding down Kriebel Road in excess of 80 mph, police said.
The SUV crashed and five occupants fled into the woods, police said.
There were no reported injuries. The identities of the suspects were not released by police Friday.
Towamencin Township Police Chief Tim Troxel said Gen. Nash Elementary was not placed on lockdown.
Troxel said Friday morning that the incident initiated on the turnpike, and it is wholly under state police’s jurisdiction.
An SUV with severe front-end damage was towed from the scene.
By James Short 
