police-lights

An accidental gun discharge sent two Port Authority police officers to the hospital Thursday afternoon. (file photo)

ELIZABETH — Two Port Authority police officers were hospitalized this afternoon after they were accidentally struck by a bullet when one officer was cleaning his gun, authorities said.

An officer in the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit was cleaning his weapon inside a Port Authority facility on McLester Street around 2:15 p.m. when the gun accidentally discharged, police said.

"The bullet struck that officer in his left hand, then went through his left hand and struck another officer in the thigh," Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman said.

Both officers were transported to University Hospital in Newark and are in stable condition, Coleman said.

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Katie Lannan may be reached at klannan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @katielannan. Find NJ.com on Facebook.