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DC police officers injured in I-295 crash

WASHINGTON — A crash on the 11th Street Bridge at Interstate 295 Monday afternoon sent two D.C. police officers to the hospital and caused major traffic delays through the evening rush hour.

Around 1:30 p.m., two male D.C. police officers were helping the driver of a disabled vehicle in a single-vehicle crash on the I-695/I-295 interchange when another vehicle traveling northbound on the ramp lost control and struck the officers, said interim D.C. Police Chief Peter 91Å·ÃÀ¼¤Çéham.

The two officers — whose names have not been released — are in serious condition at Washington Hospital Center, 91Å·ÃÀ¼¤Çéham said. Both the driver of the striking vehicle and the driver the officers stopped to help also were injured.

The 11th Street Bridge ramps to and from I-295 closed because of the crash around 1:30 p.m. All lanes reopened to traffic around 7:10 p.m.

The crash demonstrates a typical danger police face in the field, 91Å·ÃÀ¼¤Çéham said.

“This is the type of thing that police officers do — they get out of their cars to assist people on dangerous roadways all the time,” he said.

Officials have not released any additional details about the crash.

91Å·ÃÀ¼¤Çé’s Dick Uliano contributed to this report.

Sarah Beth Hensley

Sarah Beth Hensley is the Digital 91Å·ÃÀ¼¤Çé Director at 91Å·ÃÀ¼¤Çé. She has worked several different roles since she began with 91Å·ÃÀ¼¤Çé in 2013 and has contributed to award-winning stories and coverage on the website.

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