A police officer remains in the hospital Thursday after a deadly crash in Greensboro early Wednesday morning. Three teenagers died in the wreck.

The crash happened at about 2:15 a.m. on Walker Avenue near Wicker Street.

Greensboro police said an officer spotted a car traveling the wrong way on West Market Street at East Lake Drive and attempted to stop the car. Police said the driver, later identified as a teenage boy, refused to stop and sped off. The officer suspected the driver may be impaired and followed the car, according to police. 

Police said the car then collided with one of the responding patrol cars. Officers extracted three teen boys from the car, two 14 year olds and one 15-year-old.

“Despite life-saving measures attempted at the scene by officers and emergency personnel, the three juveniles succumbed to their injuries,” police said. “Officers worked throughout the day to identify the juveniles and have notified their families.”

The officer involved was extracted and hospitalized with serious injuries.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is assisting in the investigation. The officers involved in the crash are on administrative leave, per standard protocol.

Police did not release the names of the teens or the inured officer.

“Any loss of life is difficult, especially when it involves the loss of such young lives,” Greensboro Police Deputy Chief Doug Tabler said. “Please continue to keep the families, first-responders and all those affected by this incident in your prayers as we navigate through this challenging time.”