PHILADELPHIA, PA - Four Philadelphia Police Officers were seriously injured and are currently recovering at an area hospital following a series of collisions that occurred when an illegal car meet was broken up Saturday.
Speaking with CBS News, Inspector D. F. Pace told reporters that shortly before midnight police were summoned to a Target parking lot with reports of illegal drag racing and vehicles performing donuts akin to a "street takeover" on private property.
The inspector explained that as officers arrived and began to disperse the illegal gathering several drivers broke away from the main group and fled at high speed in a reckless fashion. He said that although the officers stopped as many as they could, the vehicles began taking to the street at an "extremely high rate of speed."
Some of those fleeing suspects were speeding toward oncoming police vehicles which began to veer off the road to avoid collision. At least two police vehicles: one cruiser driven by two officers and a sergeant in a second cruiser collided with utility poles and buildings. Other officers were able to track down one of the fleeing vehicles that caused the wreck however the driver, who is a known subject to police, fled on foot.
A fourth officer was struck by a red Chevrolet Camaro attempting to flee. Pace said one officer opened fire toward the oncoming vehicle when it reversed toward them.
"It's unclear whether that driver of that vehicle was intentional in striking that officer and attempting to run that officer down, or whether it was while in the process of trying to elude officers," Pace said. "We just don't know that yet."
According to Fox29, three of the officers are in stable condition, having suffered arm and leg injuries. The status of the fourth officer was unknown at the time of publication. The outlet reported that no arrests have been announced.
ABC6 reported that at least 50 vehicles were involved in the illegal event. Officers later determined that the Camaro was stolen and had switched license plates at least twice.
Speaking with CBS News, Inspector D. F. Pace told reporters that shortly before midnight police were summoned to a Target parking lot with reports of illegal drag racing and vehicles performing donuts akin to a "street takeover" on private property.
The inspector explained that as officers arrived and began to disperse the illegal gathering several drivers broke away from the main group and fled at high speed in a reckless fashion. He said that although the officers stopped as many as they could, the vehicles began taking to the street at an "extremely high rate of speed."
Some of those fleeing suspects were speeding toward oncoming police vehicles which began to veer off the road to avoid collision. At least two police vehicles: one cruiser driven by two officers and a sergeant in a second cruiser collided with utility poles and buildings. Other officers were able to track down one of the fleeing vehicles that caused the wreck however the driver, who is a known subject to police, fled on foot.
A fourth officer was struck by a red Chevrolet Camaro attempting to flee. Pace said one officer opened fire toward the oncoming vehicle when it reversed toward them.
Philadelphia Police said four officers were hospitalized after breaking up an illegal car meetup in the city's Wynnefield Heights neighborhood. https://t.co/d93ha0DgaQ
— CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) January 13, 2025
"It's unclear whether that driver of that vehicle was intentional in striking that officer and attempting to run that officer down, or whether it was while in the process of trying to elude officers," Pace said. "We just don't know that yet."
According to Fox29, three of the officers are in stable condition, having suffered arm and leg injuries. The status of the fourth officer was unknown at the time of publication. The outlet reported that no arrests have been announced.
ABC6 reported that at least 50 vehicles were involved in the illegal event. Officers later determined that the Camaro was stolen and had switched license plates at least twice.
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