DARTMOUTH – Three people are facing charges after a police chase ended with a serious incident in Darmouth on Saturday afternoon.

Halifax Regional Police say they responded to a theft at the Best Buy store in Dartmouth Crossing just after 3 p.m.

The suspects fled the scene in an orange Pontiac Vibe, striking another vehicle on the way out of the parking lot.

The car was later spotted on Main Street, where police were able to corner the car along a dead-end street – but the vehicle kept going.

“The police van stopped and the vehicle fled again, this time striking the police van head on. Neither officer was injured inside the vehicle, the vehicle continued to leave that area in the direction of Waverley Road,” said Halifax Regional Police Staff Sgt. Robert Fox.

Police say at that point officers chose not to chase the suspects for safety reasons.

“Because of the time of day and the amount of traffic on a Saturday afternoon, police did not pursue the vehicle any further, and the vehicle continued to drive in a careless and reckless manner,” said Fox.

The vehicle was then involved in a serious crash with a third vehicle, sending a mother and her two children to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Three suspects then fled on foot, two were arrested almost immediately and a police dog tracked down the third a short while later.

Two men and a woman are facing a number of charges in relation to the incident.

The driver, a 33-year-old woman is facing charges of theft and possession under $5,000, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, flight from police, two counts of failing to stop at the scene of an accident, and two counts of assaulting police.

A 29-year-old man faces charges of theft and possession under, resisting arrest and breach of recognizance, and a 38-year-old man also faces charges of theft and possession under.

The three will remain in custody and will face a bail hearing on Sunday.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing and police are asking anyone with any information on the matter to contact them or Crime Stoppers.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Emily Baron-Cadloff.