5 Chicago police officers struck by car during teen gathering

Five Chicago police officers were injured when a driver struck them while they were breaking up a large teen gathering on the city’s West Side, according to police and local officials. The driver and a passenger were taken into custody.

The incident happened at about 3:20 a.m. on Sunday in the 1200 block of South Loomis Street, near Roosevelt Road on Chicago’s Near West Side, just west of downtown. Officers were working crowd control during what officials described as an out-of-control after-prom gathering connected to the Brooks Homes area.

According to NBC Chicago, citing Chicago police, the driver of a blue sedan was traveling west in an eastbound lane when the vehicle struck multiple officers. The car then went over a curb and stopped after hitting a pole and a fence.

“All of a sudden the car just sped off and took off and just plow through,” Justin Peters, who works with the violence intervention group Violence Interrupters, said.

Alderman Jim Gardiner, who represents Chicago’s 45th Ward, said at least five officers were injured while trying to address what he described as a teen takeover. He said the driver and passenger were immediately taken into custody.

Five officers were taken to area hospitals and listed in fair condition, according to police. WLS reported that three officers remained hospitalized Sunday afternoon.

The 18-year-old driver was not injured and was taken into custody. Police said a weapon was recovered from the vehicle.

Twelve other people were also arrested in connection with the incident, according to police.