Two D.C. police officers are in serious condition after they stopped on a freeway to help a driver and were hit by an SUV, officials say.
The Metropolitan Police Department officers stopped about 1 p.m. Monday on Anacostia Freeway (I-295) northbound at the westbound ramp to Southeast/Southwest Freeway (I-695), just east of 11th Street Bridge, officials said. The driver of a silver SUV had spun around on the freeway and the officers stopped to help, police said.
The officers were outside their two cruisers when the driver of a blue SUV crashed into them, police said.
Both officers were rushed to MedStar Washington Hospital Center via helicopter. They are in serious condition, Mayor Muriel Bowser said. Their injuries are non-life-threatening, police said.
"They sustained trauma to their lower bodies," trauma surgeon Dr. Christine Wall said at a news conference. "Both of them will remain in the hospital at least tonight."
The drivers of both SUVs also were hurt, police said.
Interim Police Chief Peter Newsham thanked the officers.
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"This is the type of thing that police officers do on a daily basis," he said.
No information was released immediately on the cause of the crash.
Major crash investigators are working the case and will determine if the driver of the blue SUV will be charged with a crime.
Some lanes of I-295 northbound headed toward I-695 westbound were closed, D.C. police said.
Stay with News4 for more details on this developing story.
