Officer injured by fleeing driver in Brooklyn; shots fired

A driver allegedly fleeing a traffic stop struck a police officer in Brooklyn early Friday morning, - ABC News 7 reports.

The incident occurred shortly after 12:45 a.m. at the intersection of Hegeman Avenue and Van Siclen Avenue in East New York. Officers fired at the vehicle as it sped away from the stop.

Jose Urena, a local resident, reported hearing the gunshots. "I heard three shots. That's why I looked out the window - I saw the officer down," Urena said.

 According to Urena, police officers were surrounding their colleague who had been hit by a gray Toyota Highlander with New York plates as it fled the scene.

"He could have family like me, you never know. He could've gotten killed right there," Urena added.

Fortunately, the officer sustained only a minor ankle injury and was treated at a hospital. 

The police had been attempting to stop the SUV for a motor vehicle violation and are still searching for the driver. The officers involved belong to the Strategic Response Group unit in Brooklyn.

A few hours later, another driver, while trying to turn onto Hegeman Avenue from Hendrix Street, crashed into a police SUV, causing a chain reaction crash. Police are investigating whether this driver failed to see the police tape set up to cordon off the original crash scene.