Dec. 11--Three Chicago police officers were seriously hurt when their marked squad car was hit by another car in the Gresham neighborhood, according to police and witnesses.
A passenger in the other car was also injured in the crash, which occurred about 8:20 p.m. Wednesday near 87th Street and Loomis Boulevard, officials said.
Two officers were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the third officer was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said. The passenger was also taken to Christ.
The three police officers were all in serious condition but "were doing very well," according to a police source. One officer had a head injury. The passenger was also listed in serious condition.
The officers were traveling westbound on 87th Street in a marked squad car and were turning right on Loomis Boulevard when a white Acura sedan, also traveling westbound, struck them, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Hector Alfaro.
The mangled squad car came to rest next to a street light pole and the Acura, its front crushed, was nearby with its emergency lights blinking.
A woman on the scene said she was crossing the street when she saw the white car crash into the squad car.
A 22-year-old man, who was driving the Acura, was treated on the scene but was not transported to a hospital. The driver was later issued citations for not having insurance and not wearing a seatbelt, Alfaro said.
A 26-year-old man, who was a passenger in the Acura, struck the car's windshield, police said. He was also cited for not wearing a seatbelt.
A firefighter was also hospitalized after being injured while removing the officers from the car, according to fire officials. The firefighter was taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital in fair-to-serious condition and was treated and released.
