The crash happened in the 2500 block of El Portal Drive around 8:39 p.m. Monday. The car hit a gas line and caused a natural gas leak, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Marshal Lewis Broschard said.
A San Pablo police officer said Pinole police had been chasing the car before it drove into the apartment building.
Pinole police had not released any information about the chase or crash as of mid-morning.
Broschard said the gas line was secured in about five minutes. He said fire crews evacuated the building that was struck and a building next to it, but that no residents were injured.
No further information was immediately available.