CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Four officers were seriously hurt after two Charlotte-Mecklenburg police cruisers collided with each other Friday night in north Charlotte, police said.
The crash happened around 11:15 p.m. on Beatties Ford Road between Lasalle and Gilbert streets, not far from the scene of a deadly shooting on Catherine Simmons Avenue.
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Police were at a homicide scene on Beatties Ford Road when they said they heard gunshots nearby.
Officials said the first police SUV started to make a U-turn after hearing shots being fired behind them, but as it was turning, it was hit on the driver's side by the second police SUV.
Firefighters were seen working to get one of the officers out of a police cruiser, which was crushed on the driver's side.
"You got cops on this side, you got cops on this side, you got one, two, three, four, or five coming up this way. They're trying to dodge 'em and they couldn't dodge 'em. Just boom, boom...," a witness said. "Very sad because he just hit and it started sliding and they tried to avoid it but they couldn't."
The four officers were taken to a local hospital with serious injuries, but have since been treated and released.
OFFICERS INVOLVED:
- Officer Michael Petrillo -- 3 years with CMPD
- Officer Micha Edmunds -- 3 years with CMPD
- Officer Shon Sheffield -- 7 years with CMPD
- Officer Michael Mosher -- 5 years with CMPD
Beatties Ford Road was shut down for several hours while authorities investigated the crash.
Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.