ALBANY, Ga. — A suspect being chased by police over an expired license plate smashed his car into a south Georgia home and set off an explosion that destroyed the house.

Three residents escaped the blaze Tuesday in Colquitt County, but their three kittens died. A neighbor’s dog was struck and killed by the fleeing car.The Associated Press reports that Colquitt County sheriff’s deputies were chasing a car with expired tags driven by 23-year-old Antonio Wise.

The deputies used stop sticks to flatten the car’s tires. It then smashed into the home of Clayton Kelly. Kelly said the car’s gas tank exploded just as he, his wife and daughter reached their front door. Wise was arrested after the crash.

The sheriff’s office said it was important to apprehend Wise because of his numerous traffic violations.