Driver fleeing traffic stop strikes multiple people including child, CPD officer in River North
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A driver speeding away from a traffic stop struck several people including a child and a police officer in Chicago's River North neighborhood Saturday evening.
According to the Chicago Police Department, a police sergeant stopped the driver of a red Hyundai near Grand Avenue and North State Street, and when he asked the driver to exit his vehicle, the driver refused, put his vehicle in gear and drove off.
A witness aid the sergeant doing the stop went to process the documents for the couple sitting inside the car when that couple decided to drive off.
As they drove away they struck the sergeant and swerved into a crowd of people crossing State and Grand, police said.
There were conflicting reports from CPD and the Chicago Fire Department shortly after the incident, but as many as five people were struck.
Among those who were struck were a 5- to 7-year-old girl and a woman.
According to CPD, the girl was taken to Lurie Children's Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The woman was taken to Northwestern Medical Center in good condition. And the CPD officer was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatning injuries.
A witness described the victims tumbling through the air. Video on the Citizen App shows a bird's eye view of what appears to be one of the victims lying on the ground just after being struck.
"All I hear is a screech and I turn around behind me, and the officer is laying there, they're all trying to get to the other officer. It was weird. He was just laying there screaming, like, whirling around in pain. And I just see a lady fly in the air because he hit the lady so bad. And she fell down," said China Robinson.
She said that woman's husband then dragged her from the street where she feel to the curb.
"I just stood there looking around. Drinks were all over the place. People were just screaming. It was total chaos," she said.
The intersection was roped off for hours Saturday night.
The driver fled the scene. A car was recovered Saturday night, but no one was in custody Sunday.