A chase involving state police and officers from Macungie and Alburtis along Spring Creek Road in Lower Macungie Township and Alburtis late Sunday ended with a Macungie officer being taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital.

Officer Todd Bernhard sustained neck and back injuries when the car he was driving was hit from behind by Jaime Nunez, 54, of Bethlehem.

Bernhard is back on the job, said Macungie Police Chief Ed Harry, though he is still feeling the effects of the collision.

According to the state police report, Nunez initially side-swiped a car driven by Connie Kacsur, 54, of Alburtis, on Spring Creek Road.

When Nunez fled, Kacsur followed to get Nunez's license plate information.

A chase ensued, and after Nunez took a dirt path to get back onto Route 100 South, he struck the back of the car Bernhard was driving.

Nunez then drove into the parking lot of the Masonic Lodge where he hit a tree before he was taken into custody.

Nunez was arraigned before Magisterial District Justice Charles Crawford and taken to Lehigh County Prison on $50,000 bail. He was charged with driving under the influence, aggravated assault, fleeing from a police officer, recklessley endangering another person, criminal mischief, and more.