CHICAGO — Seven people, including three children, were injured in a car crash that involved an unmarked police car that was part of a police chase on Thursday, authorities said.
The police car was assisting other officers pursuing a shooting suspect when it was involved in a collision at 76th and Halsted streets about 11:20 a.m., said Officer Jose Estrada, a police spokesmen.
Nearby officers witnessed someone firing shots from a car a few blocks away near 75th Street and Union Avenue, and backup officers were called in to help go after the shooter's car, Estrada said.
During the chase, the unmarked Ford Crown Victoria squad car was involved in an accident with two SUVs, according to Estrada and fire department spokesman Larry Langford.
The driver of an SUV that flipped over during the crash was seriously injured and taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, the fire department said. Estrada said her injuries were not life threatening.
Two officers also suffered non-life threatening injuries, and they were in "stable" condition at Christ, Estrada said.
In the other SUV, a woman was in fair-to-serious condition, and three kids were in good condition, according to Langford. They were taken to St. Bernard Hospital, the fire department said.
Estrada said the three children were taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Police detectives and Major Accidents investigators were looking into the crash, he said.
Estrada said police ended up catching the shooting suspect.