HONOLULU -- Honolulu police said officers opened fire on a car that as accelerating toward them on Saturday, marking the third officer-involved shooting in a month.

According to police, the incident began in Kapalama Heights at about 10:30 a.m. as officers stepped out of their vehicles to investigate a suspected vehicle theft.

Three undercover officers followed a stolen, grey truck into Makuahine Place, but when the police officers pulled up, the truck was empty.

Responding officers said there were two men standing outside a white Neon next to the truck, speaking to a man and a woman inside.

“The white neon revved its engine, (screeched) its tires and tried to move out of the area,” said Capt. Letha Decaires, with the Honolulu Police Department. “As it did, that put our officers in jeopardy for injury. An officer ended up shooting towards the vehicle.”

According to Decaires, one of the shots ended up hitting the driver of the vehicle.

An officer was also injured in the incident, police said.

According to police, the white Dodge Neon had also been reported stolen.

Police said the woman inside the car fled after the driver was shot, but later returned.

Saturday's shooting marked the third officer-involved shooting of a suspect within a month.

“You know, our officers are very well trained,” said Decaires. “Our officers have to make split-second decisions in regards to very difficult situations, and when you have vehicles that weigh 2,000 pounds coming at you, you want to stop the vehicle so you can stay alive.”

Police arrested the driver, identified as 21-year-old Reinier Sales, of Kalihi. Sales was taken to Queen's Hospital, where he was treated for a bullet wound in his right ribs.

Police added that one of the men standing by the Neon during the incident was also arrested on four separate warrants.

Police said Sales was booked at the Kalihi Police Station, and added that he has four prior misdemeanor convictions on his record.

Neighbors in the area at the time of the shooting reported hearing three shots fired.

“It sounded like fireworks, but it sounded pretty soft, so I knew it was gunshots,” said neighbor Carolyn Bello. “I looked down the lane and there was just a swarm of police.”

Police from multiple divisions were involved in investigating the duty, which is standard procedure for an officer-involved shooting.

This latest shooting comes three weeks after police used deadly force to stop an accused car thief from trying to escape arrest.

Jeremiah Lopez III was shot three times after he tried to run over officers at the drive through of the Kentucky Fried Chicken at the Waikele Shopping Center, police said.

The second shooting occurred last week when officers fired shots at Gerald Galon Jr. when he briefly dragged an officer with a car while trying to escape a routine traffic stop on Cooke Street in Kakaako, police said. Galon fled the scene but was arrested the next day after he went to the hospital.