A DRIVER abandoned his girlfriend and baby boy in the wreckage of a crashed car to escape police, cops said.

The man ran off and jumped into a canal after the vehicle crashed on Saturday afternoon in Long Eaton, Derbyshire.

The 24-year-old, from Nottingham, was driving a red Vauxhall Corsa with false plates when police tried to stop him just after 2pm.

But his bungled escape saw the Corsa hit four cars before smashing into a Mitsubishi pick-up truck and flipping onto its roof.

After the crash, the man ran from the vehicle and attempted to escape by jumping into the canal, police said.

The man was then detained at the scene and was to taken to hospital to be checked over. The woman and baby who were in the Corsa were also taken to hospital for checks.

No one was reported as injured in the Mitsubishi.

Derbyshire Police said the man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving without a license and insurance and leaving the scene of an accident.

He was taken into custody where he remained yesterday evening.

Officers are appealing for witnesses to the incident.