Police in Durham region say they are investigating a pair of hit and runs that happened within 15 minutes of each other.

Authorities have one person in custody but are still looking for other suspects after the incidents which resulted in three people being sent to hospital.

Police were alerted to a hit and run in the parking lot of Tropix, a local nightclub on Liverpool Road, at about 2:30 a.m.

Two people were hit in the accident. One person is in serious condition at hospital while the other received minor injuries.

About 15 minutes later, police say another person was hit and dragged by a vehicle in the parking lot.

The vehicle, which was reportedly carrying a number of passengers, also struck several ambulances and police cars who had made their way to the scene to respond to the first hit-and-run accident.

Police chased the suspect's vehicle to Port Union Road. One person was arrested after the suspect vehicle crashed.

A man in his twenties is charged with several offences, including impaired driving.