A police officer hit a bicyclist with their cruiser Sunday afternoon in North Philadelphia while chasing a car believed to be connected to an earlier shooting, authorities said.
The crash happened at around 3 p.m. on the 700 block of Spring Garden Street, the PPD said in a statement Monday.
Medics took the cyclist, a 68-year-old man, to Temple University Hospital to be treated for minor injuries, the department added. No one else was hurt in the incident.
Investigators said the pursuit began when officers tried to pull over a silver Honda CRV on the 1900 block of W. Allegheny Avenue in the Tioga neighborhood. Police believe the car may have been involved in a shooting that occurred Saturday afternoon in Nicetown.
In that case, a 22-year-old man showed up to Temple hospital at around 1:45 p.m. Saturday with a wound to his back after shots were fired on the 1600 block of Juniata Street, according to authorities. His injuries were not considered life-threatening.
As the chase continued along Spring Garden Street, the driver of the CRV veered into the bike lane, and the PPD vehicle followed, striking the cyclist and an unrelated SUV, police said. The CRV and its occupants fled the area and escaped, according to law enforcement.
The PPD said the collision is being reviewed by the department’s Crash Investigation Division.
Philly Bike Action, a cycling group that advocates for safer streets, said the crash underscores the need for elected officials to accelerate plans for a protected bike lane on Spring Garden Street.
“A protected bike lane would have kept this man safe,” the organization said in a statement Monday. “Instead, he has to spend time recovering in a hospital.”
