WATCH: ATV crashes into Connecticut police cruiser attempting to block pedestrians from harm
Warning: Video contains graphic footage.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) – An ATV driver suffered serious injuries after crashing into a police cruiser in New Haven, Connecticut, on Sunday, police officials said.
Police said officers were patrolling the city's East Rock Park around 3:40 p.m., following reports of ATV riders using Farnam Drive to access the park — a road that's been only open to pedestrian traffic since 2020.
The officers had been part of a team assigned to dirt bike/ATV detail, in the hopes of addressing ongoing complaints of riders driving recklessly around the city.
Once on Farnam Drive, officers noticed an ATV driving fast on the same road, heading in the direction of multiple pedestrians.
In footage of the incident, the officer operating the cruiser slowed down and angled the vehicle to block the lane where the families had just passed. Police said the position of the cruiser also allowed the ATV driver to move to the side and pass.
Instead, the oncoming ATV driver lost control and struck the front passenger side window of the cruiser, the video shows.
The driver was transported to a hospital with serious injuries, according to police.
"This is an unfortunate and stark reminder of the extreme dangers of illegal ATV and dirt bike riding on city streets, both for pedestrians and the operators of the vehicles themselves," New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson said in a statement Tuesday.
"While we're glad the family was protected from harm, what happened to the driver is tragic, and we hope for his complete and speedy recovery and we urge the public not to engage in this type of activity," Jacobson said.