WASHINGTON - A terrifying situation unfolded for motorists at North Capitol Street and Michigan Avenue Wednesday afternoon, as a car trying to flee a shooting ran a red light and crashed into busy traffic.

One of the district's busiest intersections was shut down for two hours around 12:00 p.m., after police say the driver of one vehicle shot into another. The driver of the second vehicle drove into busy traffic in an attempt to get away.

The second driver, who was in a black Cadillac SUV, hit a Mercury causing the airbags to deploy. He also swiped a D.C. government vehicle before crashing into the curb near a bus stop. Then, he and his passenger tried to flee for their lives.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department (web | news) , the Cadillac was on Michigan Avenue stopped at the red light when the ordeal began.

"Another car pulled up beside it... told him to roll the window down. He didn't roll the window down and fired two shots into the vehicle," Lt. Michael Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department reported.

"Apparently one of the passengers was injured and he was taken to the hospital. And then the car sped off into the intersection which struck another, which struck another vehicle and created a three-car accident," Smith added.

Police report the only person hospitalized was the passenger of the Cadillac who was shot in the shoulder. The passenger is in stable condition.

It took police hours to sort through exactly what happened. Traffic was reportedly backed up in every direction and had to be rerouted.
Residents in the area said accidents are common. "On this corner they always having [accidents], but no [shootings]," said one resident near the scene of the crash.

Police believe there was an argument between the shooter and the victim earlier in the day and one followed the other before the incident unfolded.

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