A car slammed into a tree and then caught fire, trapping a woman inside and seriously injuring her in Bridgeport, police say.

The incident happened on Chopsey Hill Road near the Route 25-8 Connector after 4:15 a.m.

Police shut down the Chopsey Hill Road overpass near Reservoir Avenue so they could investigate the crash.

Police officer Kathleen Ramirez who was patrolling in the area, came upon the crash and attempted to aid a woman who was trapped inside the car after the crash.

Police say Sgt. Joaquim DeBarros got to the scene and tried to free the woman from the burning car, but couldn't

Officers called for back up and more officers managed to push the tipped car back upright.   

Firefighters arrived on the scene and quickly extinguished the fire and freed the woman. 

She was taken to the hospital in serious condition.

Police say shortly after the road re-opened that another crash involving three cars occurred on the Chopsey Hill Road overpass.

Police say the three-car-crash was caused when a traffic light at Island Brook Avenue Extension was still flashing red and yellow from when the overpass was initially closed.

Police say two or three people were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The Department of Transportation was on scene to reset the traffic lights and the lights were repaired.