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Unmarked NYPD Car Strikes Church Van In East New York
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Mar 26, 2014
Modified Mar 26, 2014
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Mar 26, 2014
Modified Mar 26, 2014
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An unmarked NYPD cruiser struck a church bus in East New York last night, causing the bus to careen into a parked car and catch fire. According to an NYPD spokeswoman, the unmarked cruiser was traveling east on Belmont Street and the church van, carrying three auxiliary police officers, was traveling north on Essex Street. Shortly before 11 p.m., the cruiser collided with the van near the intersection, and the force of the crash sent the van into an unoccupied vehicle, where it caught fire. Despite the severity of the collision, the five victims all suffered non-life threatening injuries.
One of the officers in the cruiser was treated and released at Jamaica Hospital, while the other was admitted and is in stable condition. Two men in the bus were treated and released for minor injuries, while a woman was treated for a head wound but is expected to live.
"The impact was rough, it felt like a wrecking ball hitting the bus," one of the men in the van told ABC. "Very fast, it was quick. Thank God I'm alive. Thank God my friends are alive. Thank God the officers that were in the car that hit us are alive."
The police spokeswoman said the incident is under investigation.
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east new york
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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