A long-time Chicago police sergeant was injured and another driver given a field sobriety test following a serious crash on the city's south side Wednesday night.
The 10:40 p.m. crash on the 200 block of East Garfield Boulevard was so violent that witnesses said the sergeant was thrown to the passenger side of his unmarked squad car, which came to rest against a light pole.
A witness told NBC Chicago the squad car was traveling the wrong direction on South Indiana Avenue, which is a one-way street. A Chicago Police Department spokesperson denied that claim but said the officer did not have his emergency lights on at the time of the crash.
Those who saw the crash said it appeared the officer was knocked unconscious and that they feared for his life.
"I saw the police car make a turn and the other car smashed into the police car and I saw the officer fall over and I thought he was dead," said witness Kimberly Morgan. "I ran downstairs ... and I went all the way up to the car and saw the officer and just said a prayer for him."
The sergeant was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and, according to officials, was expected to make a full recovery.
The other driver was given a field sobriety test. Officers said that's a standard part of their investigation. No charges were filed as of 5:30 a.m.
