Police say a man driving a stolen car, who caused a five-vehicle pileup in Stoneham at the height of today’s morning rush, made sure each of his victims was OK, and even hugged one of them, before he fled on foot.

Stoneham Police Chief James McIntyre said the suspect was described by witnesses as a bald white male in his 30s wearing a T-shirt. He was last seen crossing Montvale Avenue, where the crash occurred at 7:30 a.m., and stopping at a gas station, where he took off a red sweatshirt before disappearing, police said.

McIntyre said the man was driving a stolen Hyundai that rear-ended another vehicle stopped in traffic, setting off a chain-reaction wreck involving five cars in total.

The chief said the other drivers claimed the suspect got out of the Hyundai, walked up to each of them to ask if they were OK, and “even hugged one of the drivers before he walked away, saying that he was going to call his insurance company.”

Anyone with information about the suspect’s identity is urged to call Stoneham police at 781-438-1215.