Father and 11-year-old son injured during police shootout, B.C. watchdog says

An 11-year-old boy and his father are in hospital after gunfire was exchanged with police during a high-speed pursuitnear Merritt, B.C., Sunday.

RCMP say shortly before 4 p.m.they tried to stop a white Ford F-350 truck and trailer thathad been reported stolenbut the vehicle fled.

A few hours later, the truck was spotted justoutside of Merritt on Highway 5Awiththe trailermissing.

Officers used a spike belt to stall the truck, but it kept going before coming to a stop on Highway 8 near Snake Road and Highway 97C.

Mounties say the suspect and police were shooting at eachother throughout the incident.

The province'sIndependent Investigations Office says a father and 11-year-old boy were found inside the truck with serious injuries and taken to hospital.

"We understand the child has injuries. We're not certain what caused them at this time,"said Ronald McDonald, Chief Civilian Director with the province's Independent Investigations Office (IIO).

The IIO has taken over the case and will beinvestigating whether officers' actions or inactionsled to the injuries.

McDonald said the man and boyare recovering from their injuries.