MANILArickmortymegaways, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and five others injured, including a police officer, after a man drove off with a police patrol car and plowed into pedestrians in Rizal province, east of Manila, on Thursday morning, local police said.

In a report, police said the incident, which happened around 11:45 a.m. local time in Morong town, involved a man with mental illness who was undergoing treatment in the town's facility. The suspect stole the parked police patrol car and drove off.

Police said their operatives immediately responded to try to gain control of the stolen vehicle. However, the man managed to speed off, hit a roadside post, and crashed into pedestrians.

Police detained the suspect. It was not clear if police will slap charges against the suspect, given his mental condition.■