It was a rough late Saturday night for two Chicago police squad cars in Lawndale, where a collision at a busy neighborhood intersection sent three officers to the hospital. Officials said the injuries were not serious, and an investigation into what went wrong is still underway.
Where and when it happened
The crash unfolded just before midnight in the 3900 block of West Cermak Road at South Pulaski Road, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Both marked Chicago Police Department vehicles were responding to a call for service when they collided in the intersection.
Officers hospitalized but expected to recover
Three officers were taken to area hospitals for treatment and “were not badly injured,” the department said, per ABC7 Chicago. Authorities did not immediately release the officers’ names, their unit assignments, or the specific hospitals where they were evaluated.
Investigation and details are still limited
How two responding squad cars ended up crashing into each other is still an open question. Police had not said what caused the wreck or provided additional details overnight, FOX 32 Chicago reported. The department said more information would be released when available.
Not the first crash involving CPD vehicles
Crashes involving Chicago police vehicles surface from time to time. In one example, three officers were hospitalized after a squad car slammed into a tree during a pursuit in June 2025, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Incidents like these have previously led to departmental reviews of how pursuits and emergency responses are handled.
What residents should know
Drivers and residents around Cermak and Pulaski may have seen a heavy police and emergency response in the area overnight. As of Sunday, police had not released further public details on the Lawndale crash or the officers’ conditions. This story will be updated if the Chicago Police Department or city officials share additional information.
