2 officers struck on DC highway while helping disabled vehicle
WASHINGTON - Authorities say two D.C. Police officers are in serious condition after they were struck by a vehicle along a southeast D.C. highway. A total of four people were injured in the crash.
Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Dustin Sternbeck confirmed to FOX 5 that two officers were injured in the accident. Interim Police Chief Peter Newsham says it's too soon to tell whether there will be charges for the driver of the vehicle involved. Two other people were also being treated for injuries as a result of the crash.
Newsham said that the officers were on the way back to the third district in northwest when they came upon an SUV that had crashed on the ramp to the 11th street Bridge - they pulled their marked cruiser to the shoulder and got out to help. As they were assisting the driver another car coming from northbound 295 lost control of his car and struck the officers and the motorist they were trying to help.
Several ambulances and a helicopter were sent to the scene. According to U.S. park police one officer and one of the drivers were airlifted to the Washington Hospital Center while the second officer was taken by ambulance.
The second motorist was taken by ambulance to George Washington Hospital center where his condition is unknown.
"They saw a disabled auto it wasn't in their district, they took the time to get out and render assistance which says a lot about the officers---they were in uniform, they had a marked police car, if you are familiar with the ramp they passed the single car that they believed to be disabled, they got out of the vehicle to go back to assist when the striking vehicle to come along--we don't know what caused the other vehicle to lose control but all that information should become available when we complete our investigation," said Newsham.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.Authorities say two D.C. Police officers are in serious condition after they were struck by a vehicle along a southeast D.C. highway.
Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Dustin Sternbeck confirmed to FOX 5 that two officers were injured in the accident. Interim Police Chief Peter Newsham says it's too soon to tell whether there will be charges for the driver of the vehicle involved. Two other people were also being treated for injuries as a result of the crash.
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser wrote on Twitter that the officers had been helping the driver of a disabled vehicle. She wrote that they are in serious condition at Medstar Washington Hospital Center.
The cause of the accident is under investigation.