Three police officers among 5 hurt in Austin crash

Three Chicago Police officers were among five people hurt in a traffic crash Monday afternoon while they were en route to help another officer who was injured.

The three officers were in a police vehicle driving north in the 700 block of South Laramie when a Subaru Impreza collided with their vehicle about 2:25 p.m., police News Affairs Officer Thomas Sweeney said.

The Subaru had been traveling west on Flournoy and went around other stopped vehicles before it hit the squad car, police said.

Three police officers were taken to hospitals with minor injuries, Sweeney said.

The 64-year-old man driving the Subaru and an 80-year-old passenger also suffered minor injuries were taken to Stroger Hospital, Sweeney said. The driver was issued traffic citations.

At the time of the crash, the officers were on their way to the 5100 block of West Madison, where a male suspect had punched a Chicago Police official in the face during an investigation, Sweeney said.

The male was arrested and charges are pending Monday evening, police said.