PLANTATION, Fla. --
A police officer and two other drivers were taken to a hospital and a K-9 was taken to a veterinarian after a three-vehicle crash in Plantation on Tuesday afternoon.
The crash occurred about 3:30 p.m. at 70th Avenue and West Broward Boulevard.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. Witnesses said a marked police car driven by 25-year veteran Plantation police Officer Curtis Hampton was moving east on Broward Boulevard when it collided with a gold SUV that was heading west.
"I just saw that this car over here was changing lanes really rapidly, zig-zagging," said a witness. "It hit the police car. It jumped the median."
An off-duty Broward Sheriff's Office deputy and a communications officer who happened to be there witnessed the crash and called 911.
"They called it in, said there was a police officer involved. We responded, and what we found was a three-vehicle accident with some pretty significant damage," said Plantation Fire Rescue Chief Joel Gordon.
Rescuers extricated Hampton, who was trapped in his cruiser. He was flown to Broward General Medical Center in critical condition. His condition later was changed to serious but stable.
The woman from the gold SUV was transported to Broward General Medical Center. That driver, a woman in her late 50s, was conscious when she was transported and had a broken leg, chest pains and a serious injury to her forehead. She was in stable condition.
The driver of a third car, a black Toyota that was going east on Broward Boulevard, suffered minor injuries and also was taken to a hospital.
Hampton's K-9, Rudi, was in the back of the police cruiser at the time of the crash. From Sky 10 overhead, rescuers could be seen removing the dog from the car. The animal, which appeared to be able to walk, was taken to Hollywood Animal Hospital, where he underwent surgery.
Officials said the officer was not on his way to a call at the time of the crash.
At Broward General Medical Center, Hampton's wife, the Plantation police chief and several officers filed in. Hampton's wife met with the chaplain.
Broward Boulevard was closed in both directions as a result of the crash. The westbound lanes have since reopened, but eastbound Broward Boulevard remained closed.
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