A Harford County deputy was injured Tuesday while trying to stop a Penske truck carrying stolen Applebee’s cooking oil, triggering a chaotic chase along Interstate 95 that briefly shut down the highway as the suspect remains at large.

Lt. Robert Burgess, a 29-year veteran of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, was injured Tuesday while trying to stop the Penske rental truck recklessly driving near MD-136 and Snake Lane and believed to be carrying stolen cooking oil, Sheriff Jeff Gahler said in a news conference.

The driver fled instead of stopping, Gahler said. During the escape, the Penske rental truck hit a U.S. mail truck near MD-136 and Shucks Road, then struck a passenger vehicle at Carsins Run near Route 22 and the I-95 interchange.

By 11:45 a.m., Maryland State Police and Maryland Transportation Authority officials were chasing the rental truck as it drove north in the southbound lane and hit multiple vehicles, Gahler said. No injuries were reported in those crashes.

Gahler said Burgess had exited his unmarked car north of the Aberdeen interchange to deploy stop sticks when the Penske truck driver ran him over.

“We are very, very fortunate that we are not talking about a police officer fatality today,” Gahler said.

Burgess was airlifted to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, Gahler said, but he is alert, conscious and undergoing medical treatment for “the impact and distance he was thrown.”

Another Harford County deputy in the pursuit used his vehicle to force the Penske truck driver off the road, Gahler said. The driver escaped, but police found the truck with a container of cooking oil stolen from the Aberdeen Applebee’s inside.

Gahler said people stealing cooking oil from businesses and selling it has been profitable, and the Harford County Sheriff’s Department has made arrests for oil thefts in the past.

Police detained a “suspicious person” near the Route 24 interchange who was unresponsive, Gahler said. He was taken to a hospital, and the Harford County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division is investigating whether he is connected to the incident, Gahler said.

All northbound and southbound lanes on I-95 were shut down at Exit 85 and MD-22 due to the incident, officials said. All lanes reopened just before 3 p.m., state officials said.

Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly thanked officers Tuesday for their efforts in preventing what could have been a deadly incident and offered prayers for Burgess’ recovery.

“I would like to thank all the allied public safety agencies involved for their professional response to this potentially deadly incident,” Cassilly said in a statement.

Detectives released a man they had detained after their interview with him, Harford County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Cristie Hopkins said in an email. Gahler said he is confident they will find the perpetrator.

“We will find the person responsible for this using whatever methods we have to use,” Gahler said. “We will find them.”

This article has been updated.