WEST COVINA — Police Saturday sought help from the public in finding a vehicle detectives suspect may have been racing another car that crashed late Thursday, seriously injuring a young man and woman.

The crash took place about 9:40 p.m. Thursday on Nogales Street near Shadow Oak Drive, according to police and fire officials.

An 18-year-old West Covina man was driving an Acura Integra south on Nogales Street at “a high rate of speed” with an 18-year-old West Covina woman as a passenger when the car left the roadway and struck three trees in the center divider before coming to a rest, according to West Covina police Cpl. Rudy Lopez.

“A witness reported seeing  a  blue  Honda  that  may  have  been  racing  with  the  Integra  just  prior  to the collision,” Lopez said in a written statement. “The Honda continued southbound on Nogales after the crash occurred.  “

West Covina Fire Department Capt. Esteban Rodriguez said it took rescuers 36 minutes to free the injured woman from the twisted wreckage.

Both the man and woman were hospitalized with major injuries but expected to survive, police said.

Anyone with information on the crash was asked to call West Covina police at 626-939-8500.

PHOTO courtesy of the West Covina Police Department