Victim Describes Police Chase Crash

"It was a double bang," says Cynthia Jones. "It was a jerk forward and a jerk to the side."

Cynthia Jones was driving her sister, cousin and friend in her Dodge Intrepid Wednesday evening when a van ran a red light. Jones didn't know at the time the van was being pursued in a police chase.

"I saw the van, I slammed on my brakes," she said. "I knew I wasn't going to stop, so I shielded my face and there was an impact and another one from the side."

The second car that hit Jones' vehicle was an unmarked police car. Around 8:50 p.m. Thursday, Gresham District police tried pulling over the van after hearing reports there were weapons inside.

The driver tried to speed away, then ran a red light and crashed. The van flipped over and ended on its roof in a front yard. The squad lost a bumper and had damage to the hood.

Jones says she saw smoke and everyone jumped out her car. Her cousin was bleeding, she said, and her car sustained heavy damage.

Jones, her cousin and six others, including a Chicago police detective, were hospitalized. Her cousin received stitches for a large gash and was released. The detective also was treated and released.

Jones left the hospital around 5 a.m. Friday. "We're very blessed," she said. "We're thankful that we all walked away with minor bruises."

Three people were taken into custody.

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