Officers investigating a death in Colonie were searching for a potential witness Monday when she struck a pedestrian and drove away in Schenectady, leading police on a 15-mile chase that ended with a second crash in Ballston, all in the dead man's car, police said.

The investigation began Monday when Colonie police asked other local agencies to be on the lookout for a Toyota Highlander, Colonie police spokesman Lt. Robert Winn said Monday night.

The car belonged to a man in his 50s, who had been found dead Monday morning in a room at the Lawrence Motel on Central Avenue, Winn said.

A woman had been seen driving away with his car and, although the man's death appears to be from natural causes, police wanted to find her and the vehicle, the lieutenant said.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday. There were no signs of forced entry, foul play, trauma, drugs or alcohol in the motel room, Winn said.

Soon after Colonie transmitted the car's details, the Highlander struck a pedestrian in Schenectady's Mont Pleasant neighborhood and drove away, Schenectady police spokesman Officer Timothy Rizzo said.

The crash happened near Crane street and a man suffered minor injures, the officer said.

Schenectady police found the Highlander nearby but the woman refused to stop for police, Rizzo said. A chase ensued and State Police took over, he said.

The woman drove out of Schenectady and through Scotia before taking Route 50 into Saratoga County, Scotia Police Chief Peter Frisoni said. Village officers blocked a major intersection in Scotia to keep motorists out of the chase's path, Frisoni said, as troopers followed the suspect's vehicle.

The chase ended at the intersection of Route 50 and Brookline Road in Ballston. There, the suspect ran a red light and crashed into two other vehicles, each occupied by a male driver, said State Police Maj. Robert Patnaude, who commands Troop G.

The suspect and one of the men were taken to Saratoga Hospital with injuries, Patnuade said. No troopers were injured.

Police said charges are forthcoming. The woman has not yet been identified.

The intersection of Route 50 and Brookline Road was closed as the State Police investigated the scene and is now reopened.