By Thomas Tracy
New York Daily News
NEW YORK — Two NYPD cops responding to a Brooklyn shooting were struck by a livery cab early Saturday, sending both officers to the hospital with broken bones and fractures, officials said.
The cops were responding to a ShotSpotter alert on Vermont St. in East New York around 6:30 a.m. when a dark-colored sedan crashed into the squad car at the corner of Pennsylvania and Livonia Aves., said police.
The marked squad car careened off the livery car and slammed head-on into a concrete and metal pillar for an elevated train line.
Pictures from the scene show the crumpled cop car wrapped around the stanchion.
Both officers suffered serious leg injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals. The 49-year-old livery cab driver was not seriously harmed, officials said.
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A doctor from Brookdale Hospital who witnessed the crash ran over help as 911 was called.
One cop suffered two broken femurs and hip and head injuries and was taken to Brookdale Hospital. The second cop suffered a compound fracture on his left leg and was taken to Jamaica Hospital, officials said.
The squad car was traveling down Livonia Ave. when the livery cab made a left turn from Pennsylvania Ave. onto Livonia in front of the cops, officials said.
The police cruiser tried to get around the livery cab, but the cab struck the passenger side of the cop car, sending it flying into the concrete pillar.
The cabbie was on his way to pick up a passenger when the collision happened, said his friend, who would only identify himself as Maurice.
“The police car comes from behind him. No lights, no sirens. The only thing, ‘Bam!’” said Maurice.
When police finally arrived at the Vermont Ave. address where a gunshot was reported, there was no gunman in sight, though cops did find a shell casing on the roof of the building.
The crash was being investigated Saturday.
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