An LAPD patrol car carrying three officers slammed through a fence and onto a car before coming to a stop in the front yard of a South Los Angeles home Thursday afternoon, authorities said.
First responders had to pry the doors off the squad car to pull three officers out of the car. All three officers were transported to a hospital with minor injuries and were listed in fair condition, officials said.
At least one of the officers may be hospitalized overnight for observation, Officer Bruce Borihanh of the Los Angeles Police Department told City News Service.
"It was very intense. Until they removed the officers from the vehicle, we didn't know the state of them. Good to know they are recovering," said neighbor Linda Douglas.
The crash occurred at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday while the officers were responding to a gang-related back-up call, police said.
"It hit the curb, started tumbling. Broke through the gate, broke through the other gate. Smashed the car," recalled witness Dameon Irby.
Initial reports suggest the patrol car was traveling east on 108th Street when it crashed through a fence, creating a makeshift ramp with a silver car parked in the driveway and launching it onto the car.
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That's when the squad car appears to have spun around before coming to a rest in the yard, its front wheels on the silver car and its back wheels on the ground.
"It was like thunder. When it crashed, hit the car, it sounded like thunder," said witness Joshua Vick.
It happened near 108th Street east of Avalon Boulevard (map). The cause of the crash is under investigation.
