Adelaide driver who led police on wild chase jailed after crashing into power pole

An unlicensed and unregistered driver who tried escaping police during a high-speed chase through Adelaide's suburbs has been jailed after crashing into a car yard, injuring himself and his passenger.

South Australian police say the pursuit began when the driver failed to stop for roadside officers in Edinburgh, in the city's north, around 11.45pm yesterday.

The police helicopter tracked the vehicle for more than an hour as it sped through suburban streets before the driver swerved to avoid road spikes and crashed through the car yard's fence, hitting a power pole on O.G. Road in Klemzig around 1am.

Residents who live nearby say they heard the car screeching and then a loud bang, and voiced their anger at the driver damaging vehicles being held in the car yard.

"(It was a) bit of a shock, but this corner is pretty notorious — there are a lot of accidents," resident Murray Curran told 9News.

"Disappointing, the cars are a bit of a mess… He's totalled one completely and there are a few scratches and dents on others."

The male driver and his female passenger tried to run from police after the crash but were swiftly caught and arrested by officers.

They were treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with minor injuries,

The 30-year-old driver is tonight still in police custody and will face court tomorrow for charges including failing to stop for police and driving without a licence.