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AMSTERDAM -- Two men in a car loaded with drugs fled the police, hit an embankment, flew into the air and crashed into a trooper's car, State Police said Thursday.

Troopers tried to pull a 2007 BMW over on Route 5 just east of Fonda after the driver didn't signal a turn, State Police said. The man stopped but, when the troopers started to approach, he sped away, State Police said.

The troopers pursued and called in the chase to Amsterdam police.

The BMW reached high speeds as it drove the wrong way down westbound lanes through Tribes Hill and Fort Johnson toward Amsterdam, State Police said. Oncoming traffic swerved to avoid a head-on collision.

Amsterdam police set up a roadblock at West Main and Caroline streets and, as the fleeing driver approached it, he turned into a parking lot and ran over an embankment.

The BMW flew into the air, skidded across a residential front lawn and hit a State Police cruiser, troopers said. State Police described the crash as minor.

Troopers arrested Miguel Sliger Jr., 30, and Stephon Cotton, 21, both of Harrisburg, Pa. It was unclear which man was driving the car.

During a search of the men and their car, troopers found "a substantial amount" of crack cocaine and marijuana, as well as a loaded .45 pistol, hydrocodone pills, drug paraphernalia, a stun gun and a collapsible baton, State Police said.

Sliger was taken to St. Mary's Hospital and treated for a deep cut on his head caused by the crash.

Both men are charged with three counts of felony criminal possession of a controlled substance, one count of misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance, one count of felony criminal possession of a weapon, one count of felony reckless endangerment, one count of felony criminal possession of marijuana, two counts of misdemeanor criminal possession of a weapon, and one count of misdemeanor criminal mischief.

They were arraigned in Amsterdam City Court and taken to Montgomery County Jail without bail.

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