The officers, assigned to the department's elite new "SRG" tactical unit, had been travelling in convoy southbound at East 116th Street, when a car ahead of them slowed down.
The first police car rear-ended that civilian, causing a chain-reaction that also included one other civilian car, which rear ended a third police vehicle.
At least three officers were placed on backboards and hospitalized; cops say they, and at least one other driver, suffered only minor injuries.
#BREAKING 3 @NYPDSpecialops cars in pileup on #FDRDrive. All 3 #SRG officers injured. #abc7ny pic.twitter.com/swYSaZnYMW
— Josh Einiger (@JoshEiniger7) January 3, 2016
7 officers and 1 civilian were taken to NY Presbyterian Cornell with minor injuries. A second civilian refused medical attention.
The highway was shut down while the officers were freed from their cars.
The newly formed Strategic Response Group responds to major incidents and terror attacks.
#BREAKING: All 3 #NYPD cops cut from cars, on backboards, but conscious/alert. At least one other injury. #abc7ny pic.twitter.com/tyYweQHrNy
— Josh Einiger (@JoshEiniger7) January 3, 2016