Four people including a city policeman -- were seriously injured Friday afternoon when the officer's cruiser collided head-on with a sport utility vehicle on the Bingaman Street Bridge as he responded to a call, officials said.
The accident occurred about 3:25 near Berks Packing Co. Traffic was backed up for miles through the afternoon and evening as Berks County detectives and the county accident reconstruction team worked at the scene.
City police asked the county detectives to handle the investigation.
City police said Officer Daniel Cedeno, a three-year veteran, was en route to Lancaster Avenue after getting a call about a theft in progress when the crash occurred.
Cedeno's squad car traveled into oncoming traffic and collided with an SUV that was coming over the bridge from Lancaster Avenue to Laurel Street, investigators said.
Both vehicles came to rest on the bridge in the lanes heading into the downtown near Laurel Street.
There were three people in the SUV and a man and woman who were in the front were trapped in the wreckage for about a half-hour before firefighters could cut the roof off the vehicle to rescue them.
The third person climbed out the back, investigators said.
Cedeno was conscious and talking to rescue workers at the scene, according to city police.
All four victims were taken to Reading Hospital. Police and paramedics said at least two were critically injured.
Cedeno's condition was not available.
Investigators did not release the names of the people from the SUV. They were still trying to identify them and notify relatives late Friday.
Chief County Detective Michael J. Gombar said both vehicles were impounded and will be inspected. Detectives plan to interview Cedeno on Monday.
They have not yet been able to interview the others in the crash because of the severity of their injuries, Gombar added.
"The two who were cut out of the SUV are obviously in critical condition," Gombar said. "It was a bad accident. Hopefully everyone will be OK.
"Once we complete our investigation we will meet with the district attorney to review everything."
City police were stretched so thin after the crash and an afternoon bank robbery that they had to call in the city's four K-9 officers on overtime after a full day of training with their animals.
Police did not reopen the bridge until shortly after 9 p.m.
Contact Jason A. Kahl: 610-371-5024 or [email protected].
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