Alcohol likely involved when Wichita man crashed into a tree

(WICHITA, Kan.) — A 57-year-old man is improving after crashing into a tree near Mt. Vernon and Clifton early Wednesday morning.

Police say they tried to pull the man over for having his brights on near Harry & Erie.

They say he refused to pull over, and the officer chased him for a short time.  Police say the driver ran stop signs and reached speeds of 50 miles per hours through side streets during the chase.

He then crashed into a tree near Mt. Vernon and Clifton.  That tree fell over onto a light pole and blew out a transformer.

Paramedics rushed the driver to the hospital in critical condition.  He has been upgraded to serious condition with non-life threatening injuries.  

No one else was hurt. Police believe the man may have been drinking.