ESCONDIDO, Calif. -- A 53-year-old unlicensed man who sped off after crashing his sport utility vehicle into a car in Escondido Thursday morning was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, police said.

The man fled after he struck a Mercedes while running a red light at Valley Parkway and Midway Drive shortly after midnight, according to an Escondido Police Department watch commander.

The man drove for several blocks even after the front wheels of his SUV came off, the officer said. He eventually stopped and fled on foot, running through some backyards before officers caught up to him, he said.

Police took the man to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries before booking him into the Vista jail on suspicion of drunken driving and hit-and-run.

The 44-year-old woman who was driving the Mercedes was also taken to the hospital for minor injuries, police said.