A squad car was nearly totalled and two police officers were hospitalized last Thursday when a speeding driver blew through a stop sign and broadsided the officers as they made their way through an intersection. The early-morning car accident took place in City Heights, next to Orange and Altadena avenues.

Witnesses described the car crash as a sudden explosion. Sleepers were jarred awake and those who were already up rushed outside to see what had happened. What they saw, was a smashed police car, severely damaged GMC pickup truck and number of other vehicles with minor to major damage caused by the out-of-control truck and flying debris.

The truck's driver, Robert Jose O'Connell, was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle, suffering a traumatic head injury. Doctors are currently keeping O'Connell in a medically-induced coma to prevent further brain damage.

Both police officers were bruised and sore, but escaped the accident without major injury.

O'Connell was actually fleeing from the very same squad car at the time of the accident. The two officers involved he struck had spotted the GMC truck going the wrong way on a one-way street and attempted to pull the driver over. However, O'Connell sped off, leading them on a chase until they lost the vehicle.

They were driving slowly, attempting to relocate O'Connell when he sped through the stop sign near Orange Avenue and struck the squad car. Despite the severity of his injuries, O'Connell is expected to recover.

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