Jun 28, 2009 11:57 pm US/Eastern
Officer Critical After North Philly Crash
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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According to police, Officer Hayes suffered facial injuries and a severe head injury. He was rushed to Aria Health - Torresdale Division, where his condition is now listed as critical
CBS
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According to police, Officer Hayes suffered facial injuries and a severe head injury. He was rushed to Aria Health - Torresdale Division, where his condition is now listed as critical
CBS
Two Philadelphia police officers from the 24th District were injured when they were struck by a speeding car while making a routine traffic stop in the city's Bridesburg section early Sunday morning.
The accident happened around 1:30 a.m. as officers Richard Hayes, 28, and George Higginson, 25, pulled over a red vehicle on suspicion on Driving under the Influence on the 4200 block of Aramingo Avenue.
While the officers were conducting their investigation a black truck traveling northbound on Aramingo slammed into them and the parked car.
One officer was inside of the red vehicle at the time of the crash while the other was standing near the passenger side door. According to authorities, the crash sent one of the officers flying through the air and into the street.
According to police, Officer Hayes suffered facial injuries and a severe head injury. He was rushed to Aria Health - Torresdale Division, where his condition is now listed as critical as he remains in a medically induced coma.
"There is some pressure on the brain, but not enough for them to be concerned where they have to perform emergency surgery at this time," said
Police Commissioner, Charles Ramsey.
Higginson received several lacerations to his face and was taken to Hahnemann hospital in stable condition. Higginson is expected to make a full recovery.
Further investigations later revealed the driver of the truck, John Cusick, 20, to be under the influence as well.
Police have the drivers of both vehicles in custody and the investigations of the events surrounding the accident are ongoing at this time.
Cusick has been charged with aggravated assault, DUI and recklessly endangering another person.
"We are very fortunate the officers weren't killed right there at the scene. It was a very violent accident," said Commissioner Hayes.
Hayes' uncle, Robert Hayes, was killed in the line of duty working as a Philadelphia Police officer in 1993.
Stay with CBS3.com and Eyewitness News for the latest information on this developing story.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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