By Jason Meisner
Chicago Tribune
Copyright 2007 Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — Seven people were injured this afternoon in a chain-reaction crash involving a Chicago Fire Department ambulance on the Near Northwest Side.

The crash occurred about 1:20 p.m. in the 600 block of West Grand Avenue, in the city's River West neighborhood, Fire Department spokesman Rich Rosado said.

A Dodge Caravan veered out of control and struck two other vehicles before hitting the ambulance, which was on its way to a call with emergency lights and sirens activated, Rosado said. There were no patients in the ambulance at the time.

Seven people, including a paramedic, were taken to area hospitals, Rosado said. Four were transported in fair condition and one in serious condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and two were taken in fair condition to St. Joseph Hospital, he said.

Chicago Police Officer Marcel Bright said two of the victims were children, but further details were unavailable.

The cause of the accident was under investigation.