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PLAINS TWP. — Two men who allegedly held up a bank on Route 315 on Wednesday afternoon were arrested about a mile away following a brief pursuit on area highways.

Township police responded to Luzerne Bank located near The Woodlands Inn just after 1 p.m. for a robbery. One of the men reportedly was armed with a shotgun or a rifle. Police were notified that the suspects sped away in a Honda Accord that had its license plate concealed.

A state trooper spotted the vehicle traveling north on Interstate 81 in the Laflin/Pittston Township area about 7 minutes after the alleged heist.

Authorities pursued the vehicle, which exited the interstate at Avoca, forcing the driver onto a roundabout near the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.

But then the driver turned onto Interstate 81 southbound, heading from there onto the North Cross Valley Expressway where a trooper forced the Honda into a concrete barrier about a mile from the bank.

Two men fled out the driver’s-side door. They were captured a short time later in a wooded area near the Red Roof Inn on Route 315.

A firearm was reportedly found in the rear seat of the Honda.

No injuries were reported, and police have not yet released the names of those who were arrested.

The crash caused northbound traffic on the North Cross Valley Expressway to be backed up.

FBI agents were also at the scene of the crash.

The suspects were awaiting arraignment late Wednesday in front of District Judge Michael Dotzel in Wilkes-Barre Township.

State and local police are seen near a Honda that crashed on the North Cross Valley Expressway on Wednesday following an alleged bank robbery and pursuit.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_TTL051718robbery3-2.jpg.optimal.jpgState and local police are seen near a Honda that crashed on the North Cross Valley Expressway on Wednesday following an alleged bank robbery and pursuit. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

This Luzerne Bank location on Route 315 in Plains Township was robbed Wednesday afternoon.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_luzbank-4.jpg.optimal.jpgThis Luzerne Bank location on Route 315 in Plains Township was robbed Wednesday afternoon. Ed Lewis | Times Leader

The suspected getaway car in a Plains Township bank robbery is seen surrounded by Pennsylvania State Police vehicles on the North Cross Valley Expressway on Wednesday afternoon.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_TTL051718robbery1-2.jpg.optimal.jpgThe suspected getaway car in a Plains Township bank robbery is seen surrounded by Pennsylvania State Police vehicles on the North Cross Valley Expressway on Wednesday afternoon. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

By Ed Lewis

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