ST. LOUIS — Two St. Louis police officers and five other people were struck by a car and injured Monday night.
The crash happened just before 7 p.m. in the westbound lanes of Interstate 64 near the Boyle Avenue exit.
According to a police report, a 21-year-old man was driving a Lexus ES on I-64 when he hit a marked police car, which had its emergency lights on. Two police officers were investigating another crash that involved a GMC Acadia.
After crashing into the police car, the Lexus slid into the median and struck the GMC along with the two officers and five people who were previously in the GMC.
The two officers, a 44-year-old man and 24-year-old man, were taken to a hospital in critical condition.
In a press briefing, Chief John Hayden said both officers were alert and talking. One officer is a six-year veteran and the other is a probationary officer with two months of service.
"Both of them were in serious pain and we'll obviously have to get some x-rays to determine the extent of their internal injuries," Hayden said.
Hayden said the officers were helping with the crash and the exchanging of information with the people involved when another car came "barreling through."
The other victims include a 23-year-old woman, 22-year-old woman, 24-year-old man, 23-year-old man and 21-year-old man. They also were taken to a hospital in critical condition.
Police said the driver of the Lexus was not injured in the crash. He is cooperating with the investigation. Hayden said they are still investigating to determine what charges he may face.
Both directions of I-64 were closed to traffic while the crash was being investigated. The eastbound lanes were reopened at around 9:40 p.m. and the westbound lanes reopened at around 10:30 p.m.
Hayden advised drivers to use caution any time they see people on the side of the road.
"Any time there are persons on the side of the road — whether it be police officers or emergency responders or highway workers — people should drive cautiously, and obviously that wasn't the case this evening," he said.