11:02 PM EDT on Friday, May 19, 2006

WHAS 11 News

The police officers that rushed 2-year-old Erica Hughes to the hospital in a police cruiser said they were acting on gut instinct.

Officer Larry Riley was one of the first officers at the scene of a shooting on Wilson Avenue Thursday afternoon. Riley rushed Erica to the police cruiser, and Officer Steven Kelsey drove the hospital.

The officers said they reached speeds of 80 mph on their way to Kosair, and arrived within two minutes of departing Wilson Avenue.

Erica Hughes remains in critical condition, but Officers Kelsey and Riley said they hope to visit the young girl when her condition improves.

The officers are being praised for their decision to transport Hughes using the police cruiser - a break from standard procedure.

"The police officer and two fire fighter EMTs that helped make this, get this child to the hospital a little bit faster than they might have otherwise been able, those are heroes," said Chad Carlton, speaking for the mayor's office.

The mayor's office also said that during yesterday's shooting, 20 ambulances were dispatched on Louisville's streets.

The nearest ambulance available at the time of the shooting was in southern Indiana.