A trooper was struck in the arm by suspects in a rental car fleeing a traffic stop early this morning in Woburn, State Police said.

The trooper had a car stopped with two suspects on Route 93 North in Woburn just after 5:30 a.m., said State Police spokesman David Procopio. As the trooper exited his cruiser and approached the car on foot, the car suddenly sped away.

It is not initially clear how the car struck the trooper, State Police said.

Troopers pursued the car, from Thrifty Rental Car in Lawrence, through Reading, North Reading, and Andover before the suspects evaded capture. Half an hour later, Andover Police located the car driving north on Route 28.

Another pursit began and the vehicle was slowed down in Lawrence with the use of Stop Sticks, tire-deflation devices used by law enforcement officials in high-speed chases. State and Lawrence Police then eventually stopped the car and apprehended the suspects at 106 Willard St. in Lawrence.

No further information was immediately available.