Carlie Wells
The Advocate
HAMMOND, La. — Two Louisiana State troopers were injured early Wednesday morning when a Hammond police vehicle hit them during a car chase in Hammond, officials said.
One of the troopers was listed in critical condition as of 8:15 a.m. The other trooper was treated and released with injuries described as minor, according to a statement from Louisiana State Police.
A Hammond Police Department officer noticed a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot in the 2700 block of West Thomas Street just after 2 a.m., according to a Hammond PD press release issued Wednesday morning.
When the officer tried to conduct a traffic stop, the driver took off at a high rate of speed and the officer saw occupants throwing items out of the vehicle.
Multiple Hammond PD officers joined the pursuit and as it moved out of city limits, additional agencies joined, according to the release.
Louisiana State Police said their troopers were sent around 2:15 a.m. to help the Hammond Police Department.
The troopers put a tire deflation device on Wardline Road near the intersection with Kate Street, police said. The device flattened the tires of the vehicle authorities were chasing.
When the troopers were getting the device from the road, a Hammond police unit involved in the chase hit the two troopers. The troopers were taken via Acadian Ambulance to North Oaks Medical Center, police said.
Authorities continue to search for the people in the vehicle they were chasing. They said after the tires were flattened, the vehicle crashed on Wardline Road at the intersection with Crapanzano Road. The occupants then fled, police said.
Hammond PD is still investigating the traffic stop portion of the incident and is searching for the suspects who were in a gray 2007 Infinity SUV. State Police is investigating the crash.