2 police officers hurt in Cicero crash chasing burglary suspects, officials say; 3 civilians also injured

Two police officers were hurt in a crash early Monday morning in west suburban Cicero, Illinois, while chasing burglary suspects, town officials said.Officials with the Town of Cicero said at about 4:49 a.m., a special operations unit of the Cicero Police Department that is designated monitor activity related to a recent rash of burglaries targeting gaming businesses found two cars wanted in connection to a burglary in Bellwood. The officers followed the cars until one of them pulled into a strip mall parking lot at 16th and Cicero, officials said. There is a gaming establishment in that strip mall. As the officers pulled up to that car, officials said the driver fled, jumping a curb and speeding north on Cicero Avenue. The officers tried to catch up to the car to deploy a tracking device, but officials said the suspects ped through the intersection of Cicero Avenue and Roosevelt Road. Officials said a semi driving southbound turned left onto Roosevelt just after the suspect car passed, which the Cicero police car struck in the rear. Two other vehicles were also involved in the crash. The suspect car was not involved and continued north on Cicero Avenue.Both officers in the police car were taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital. As of 10 a.m., one of them was in surgery and his condition had been stabilized. The other officer did not have life-threatening injuries. Three civilians were also hurt but did not have life-threatening injuries. They were taken to Loyola, Mt. Sinai and MacNeal hospitals for treatment. The intersection of Cicero Avenue and Roosevelt Road was closed in all directions as of 6 a.m. Monday, and drivers were advised to avoid the area.The West Suburban Major Crash Unit was on the scene as of 6:30 a.m.It was not clear if anyone was current in custody related to the crash or the burglaries.