10 Hurt When NYPD Vehicle Careens Onto Sidewalk

A New York Police Department SUV responding to a call Thursday afternoon hit another vehicle as it tried to pass, then went out of control and ran up onto the sidewalk and into a number of pedestrians. Ten people were injured in the incident, ABC 7 reports: four pedestrians (including a 5-year-old) who were hit by the police SUV, two more pedestrians who were struck by a traffic pole the police vehicle knocked over, the two officers inside the SUV, and two people inside the other vehicle (including a 2-year-old). Two of them are in critical condition, including the 5-year-old, the New York Daily News reports, but all are expected to survive.

The marked police SUV was speeding in an effort to apprehend someone who stole a car, though it was not involved in a chase at the time. It crossed a double yellow line and went into oncoming traffic at an intersection in order to pass a car ahead of it, but that car made a left and clipped the police car, sending it careening. It was using its lights and siren at the time. "I really want to commend the members of the 41 precinct because they were trying to get here, they [were] trying to prevent that crime," said NYPD Chief Maddrey. "They were trying to apprehend someone that was attempting to steal a vehicle." (More New York City stories.)