Two Chicago police officers were hurt early Thursday after their marked squad car was rear-ended on the Southwest Side and shoved into the back of a semi-trailer, leaving four people injured in a violent overnight crash in Gage Park. The collision happened shortly after midnight and sent a 22-year-old driver to the hospital, where police later took her into custody. Both officers were transported to area hospitals with head and facial injuries, and a passenger in the sedan was listed in critical condition.
What officials say
According to the Chicago Police Department, the crash happened around 12:10 a.m. in the 2700 block of West 51st Street when a blue sedan slammed into the rear of a marked patrol car, causing the squad vehicle to spin forward into the back of a westbound semi-trailer, as reported by FOX 32 Chicago. Police said the semi-truck driver was not injured and declined medical attention. Officials shared those initial details with reporters while hospitals treated the victims.
Injuries and hospitalizations
One officer suffered a head injury and was listed in good condition, while the second officer sustained facial injuries and was reported in fair condition, according to ABC7 Chicago. The 22-year-old driver of the sedan was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition and later taken into custody, and her passenger was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. The Chicago Sun-Times also reported that police placed the driver in custody.
Charges and investigation
Police said charges are pending in connection with the crash, according to reporting from CBS News Chicago. Formal charging documents have not yet been released, and investigators are continuing to examine the crash scene and the vehicle damage to determine what led up to the impact. Officials have not publicly discussed any possible contributing factors.
Neighborhood context
Gage Park has already seen several headline-making traffic incidents this year, including an earlier collision that also injured officers, detailed in an earlier crash that injured two officers in July. Local outlets have repeatedly spotlighted safety concerns along 51st Street and nearby corridors as residents and neighborhood leaders keep pressing for safer intersections and stronger enforcement.
