By Martin Weil and Ruben Castaneda
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, December 24, 2007

Two D.C. police officers were injured yesterday when their car crashed as they were on their way to help make an arrest, police said. One of the officers was listed in critical condition.

Sixth District officers Shannon C. Brackett, 27, and Claudine S. Gorman, 25, were in a marked police cruiser when the crash occurred about 12:30 p.m. at Randle Circle and Minnesota Avenue SE, police said.

Brackett, who was driving, suffered head injuries and was admitted to a hospital in critical condition, police said.

Gorman suffered back injuries and was to be released from the hospital last night, police said. Both officers have been on the force for three years.

"This is just another reminder that officers put their lives on the line every day," D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier said in a statement.

Police said the cruiser struck a tree and then a van. The van's driver was apparently uninjured.

The officers were on their way to Minnesota Avenue and Nelson Place SE, about four blocks southwest of the crash scene, to help with the arrest of someone who was combative, police said.

Police Capt. Aubrey Mongal said the arrest was made successfully. As many as two officers were involved, and they were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, he said.

Police said in a statement that the crash was under investigation. Roads were slick as a result of rainy weather for at least part of yesterday.

The crash site is in a residential neighborhood at the southwest corner of Fort Dupont Park, about a half-mile east of the Anacostia River.