25 Los Angeles law enforcement recruits injured after being hit by car | USA TODAY

At least five Los Angeles law enforcement recruits were critically injured during morning exercises after a man ran into 25 of them with his car.

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Five people were critically injured after a driver "going the wrong-way" in an SUV struck 25 Los Angeles County sheriff's and police recruits who were on a training run Wednesday morning, authorities said.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said recruits assigned to its STAR Explore Training Academy were struck in Whittier, about 15 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, around 6:30 a.m. PT. The Los Angeles County Fire Department said it was responding to a "mass casualty event."

"They were running, doing their morning training exercise when this person ran into them," Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Sheila Kelliher said at a news conference.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in an update five people were in critical condition, one of which is on a ventilator. Four people suffered moderate injuries and 16 of the recruits had minor injuries. All injured recruits were taken to nearby hospitals. Some of the most severe injuries included head trauma, broken bones and loss of limbs, he added.

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