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Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb taken to hospital following downtown crash; witness says city vehicle turned on emergency lights just before intersection

Cleveland officials told 3News that Bibb and his driver were taken to the hospital as a precaution. The mayor has since been discharged.

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb was hospitalized as a precaution on Thursday after a car crash at the corner of East 12th Street and Superior Avenue. 

City officials say Bibb's driver was engaged in "emergency response driving" when their vehicle was struck by a van. Police and clean-up crews stayed at the scene for a few hours while the intersection was blocked off. 

Sources tell 3News that Bibb was taken to Cleveland Clinic, but has since been discharged. The city of Cleveland announced in a statement that Bibb, his driver, and "the other party involved are all fine."

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Eyewitness Eric Blair observed the entire incident.

"The light had turned red and the black SUV here was coming through the light and turned his lights on and the van just came straight across and smacked them," he recalled. 

Blair added that Bibb got out of the vehicle with a security guard on his own.

"He seemed a little bit nervous, but for a while he was nervous. Like I said, when he got out the SUV, he walked over there ... sat in a bus stop," Blair described.

We asked Blair if the mayor seemed disoriented. He said this:

"For a minute and then he snapped out of it while he was sitting in a bus stop. People gave him water. I went to my vehicle and gave him a little towel to put on his head in case he bleeds more," Blair said.

The City of Cleveland released the following statement regarding the crash: 

"Mayor Justin Bibb’s vehicle was involved in a motor vehicle accident this morning on the corner of E.12th and Superior at approximately 8:55 a.m. 

At the time, the mayor’s driver was engaged in emergency response driving.   

The mayor, his driver and the other party involved are all fine.  

EMS transported the mayor and his driver to the hospital as a precaution.  

The Division of Police is currently investigating the incident and is following the process and procedure outlined for motor vehicle accidents."

3News asked the city why "emergency response lights" were being used in the intersection, but have not yet heard back.

This is a developing story. Stay with 3News as we will update this article with additional details as they become available.

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