Police Sergeant Injured In Washington Park Crash
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Chicago police officer was recovering at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, after a crash that left him pinned inside his cruiser late Wednesday night.
CBS 2's Vince Gerasole reports the impact of the crash was so severe, the officer was thrown into the passenger's seat of his unmarked squad car.
The crash occurred around 10:40 p.m. at Garfield Boulevard and Indiana Avenue in the Washington Park neighborhood.
Witnesses said they did not hear any sirens or see any flashing lights before the squad car made contact with an oncoming vehicle, and the force of the impact sent the squad car into a nearby pole.
"I am overwhelmed. I thought he was dead," said Kimberly Morgan. "I am in pajamas. I ran out of the house, because it was overwhelming just to see him slumped over like that, and I just was in tears, praying, coming down the stairs, Please let him be alive. Please let him be alive.'"
The sergeant did not suffer any life-threatening injuries, but crews spent several minutes getting him free of the car, after he became pinned in on the passenger's side.
The driver of the other car was not hurt.
The sergeant remained hospitalized at Northwestern Memorial Hospital early Thursday.
Police said no charges have been filed in the crash.
