7 injured in North Capitol Street accident

WASHINGTON - At least seven people, including one pedestrian, have been injured in a two-vehicle accident on North Capitol Street.

The accident involving a car and a sport utility vehicle on North Capitol Street at Missouri Avenue and Riggs Road closed those roads for 2 1/2 hours Friday morning.

D.C. Police spokeswoman Traci Hughes tells WTOP the preliminary investigation indicates one vehicle struck another.

"We have a total right now of approximately seven people who have been injured. They have been transported to area hospitals," Hughes says.

Two of the seven people taken from the scene had life-threatening injuries, according to D.C. Fire and EMS spokesman Pete Piringer.

Piringer said five of the injured sustained minor injuries, including a child who was a passenger.

Kenya Ruffin of D.C. was on her way to work when the accident occurred several cars ahead of her on North Capitol Street.

Ruffin says she heard a loud screech before the accident occurred.

When she got closer to the scene, she says, "They were pulling a baby out of a car. I wanted to make sure the baby was OK."

The child, she said, was a probably a pre-schooler.

Ruffin, who helped direct traffic before the emergency personnel arrived at the scene, describes one car as "crushed" like a soda can.

She says there was so much smoke she worried one of the vehicles would explode.

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