Police say a good Samaritan stopped to help a car crash victim but the victim stole the good Samaritan's vehicle and got into a second crash.

Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services state police officer Roger Mayers says he was on his way to work when he pulled over on Route 8 south to help a driver who crashed into a guardrail.

Mayers says the victim was unconscious in the vehicle.

With the help of others, Mayers got 28-year-old Jose Cancel safely out of the car.

Police say Cancel then jumped into Mayer's BMW. Mayers said he tried to stop him.

"He dragged me about a hundred feet, at which point I veered the vehicle to the left median, released the steering wheel, slid and tumbled on the grass," said Mayers.

Police say Cancel got then got away and crashed the officer's BMW near Exit 12 a short time later, leaving him injured and hospitalized in Bridgeport.

It's not clear what caused Cancel to crash two cars within the span of about 30 minutes.

Police are investigating.