NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- The man caught on surveillance camera with an abducted college student remains at large.

New Britain police began searching at 1 a.m. for a man who they said abducted a woman in front of her boyfriend and led officers in a pursuit through several towns.

Surveillance Video: New Britain Abduction Suspect College Student Abducted At Apartment

Police said the boyfriend called police to report that a man driving a van abducted the 20-year-old woman from the parking lot of Essex Place on East Street.

Police said officers had received a report of a van stolen from a gas station on Columbus Boulevard a half-hour prior to the kidnapping.

Kidnapping Report Leads To Chase

Officers issued a broadcast describing the 2002 Oldsmobile van, and several departments became involved in the search.

West Hartford police spotted the van on Route 9 and engaged in a brief pursuit before the vehicle crashed into a tree and the man fled on foot, leaving the woman behind, police said.

"A Connecticut state trooper spotted the vehicle that matched the description, attempted to stop the vehicle and the vehicle did not stop," New Britain police Sgt. Robert Martin said.

The vehicle crashed at Kensington and Cambridge streets in New Britain. Police blocked Kensington Street between Buell and Cambridge streets throughout the morning.

Woman Describes Suspect

The abducted woman, a student at Central Connecticut State University, was taken to an area hospital for evaluation. She has since been released.

Ashley Borawski, who lives in the same apartment building as the victim, called the events scary.

"It's scary. Even my roommate's like 'just let me know when you come back tonight' because it is scary because it's not the safest area that we're in," Borawski said. "I just heard she was dropped off by her boyfriend and then she was taken into a van and then they drove away."

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Heather Hegedus reported police are reviewing surveillance video from the apartment complex.

"We're up pretty late and we didn't hear anything. He must have grabbed her real quick," said Scott Rossignol, who lives in the same apartment building.

The woman described the man as being of Middle Eastern descent, about 6 feet tall with thick eyebrows. He was last seen wearing a baggy, gray sweatshirt and dark colored sweat pants.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation was urged to contact the New Britain Department by dialing 860-826-3065.