Harbour Grace RCMP say charges are pending against a 42-year-old side-by-side driver who sped away from police and crashed his vehicle on the weekend, sending his passenger to hospital.

An officer noticed the machine with two people on board – neither of whom were wearing helmets – speeding on Harvey Street in Harbour Grace around 11:30 Saturday night.

When the officer was unable to get the side-by-side to pull over, another officer further up the road parked their cruiser across the street with lights flashing, to get the vehicle to stop.

Instead of hitting the brakes, the ATV driver tried to around upending the vehicle in the process.

The passenger, a 48-year-old woman was taken to hospital in Carbonear for treatment, while the driver, who was not carrying insurance or registration, was not injured.

The machine was impounded as part of the investigation, and charges are pending.