A Minneapolis police car struck an exit ramp guardrail while escorting two Washington Redskins team buses to their game Sunday, prompting the two trailing buses to collide, authorities said.
Running back Silas Redd suffered back spasms while on the first bus that were serious enough to keep him out of the game, according to wire and several Washington, D.C., news media reports.
The crash occurred about 8:15 a.m. along eastbound Interstate 94 at the ramp to Huron Avenue, just short of the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium, according to the State Patrol.
One bus struck the other from behind, when the one in front abruptly braked because a police car out ahead crashed into a guardrail and came to a stop across the ramp, according to Patrol Lt. Eric Roeske.
The first bus also hit the guardrail as it avoided the squad car, according to Blaine-based Lorenz Bus Services, operators of the motorcoaches.
The officer was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center with minor injuries, Roeske said. There were also minor bus injuries among the bus passengers, he added.
In a statement Sunday afternoon, Lorenz said that "our drivers acted professionally, and the decisive action by the driver of the lead motorcoach likely prevented a more serious accident."
Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon tweeted a photo from inside one of the buses. It showed a shattered windshield. In the street ahead was a stretcher and the squad car turned sideways.
