Riders Injured When Van Overturns

March 27, 2012 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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BREAKING NEWS: Paramedics raced to the scene of a serious crash in Bay Ridge this afternoon in which several people were injured.

The circumstances of the crash are under police investigation, but here’s what is known at this point: an SUV fleeing from police struck a commuter van carrying senior citizens on the corner of Colonial Road and 78th Street, causing the van to turn on its side, according to witnesses.

Firefighters also arrived at the crash scene to help. Photo By John Calabrese

Local residents survey the damage of the overturned Access-A-Ride van. Photo By John Calabrese

Several people riding in the van became trapped inside, witnesses said. Emergency medical technicians began pulling the victims out of the van and putting them on stretchers to be transported to waiting ambulances for the trip to the hospital.

The SUV driver was fleeing from police at the time of the crash, according to reports, which indicated that the SUV might have been stolen. Four people – the driver and three passengers – jumped out of the SUV after the crash and fled the scene on foot, witnesses said. As of this posting, three of them have been caught by police, according to reports.

Police question one of the suspects. Photo by John Calabrese