By Elisa Crouch

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

ST. LOUIS — An off-duty police officer remained in critical condition Saturday after he was shot several times while driving his own car in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

Police said they have not been able to get information about the shooting from the man because of his condition.

St. Louis police Capt. Michael Sack told reporters that the officer was driving north on Bremen Avenue, near North 25th Street, at 3:55 p.m. Friday when he was shot from a car parallel with his.

"We don't know what transpired, but the occupant or occupants of the other vehicle opened fire," Sack said.

The officer was struck multiple times in the lower extremities, Sack said. It wasn't clear whether the officer returned fire. After driving a short distance, the officer came across an individual who drove him to the hospital.

"I don't know if he flagged someone down or saw someone he knew," Sack said.

As reporters arrived at the scene around 6 p.m., investigators were removing police tape. Broken glass was on the pavement.

The officer's vehicle was hit by bullets and was towed to the department's crime lab for further investigation.

Police said they didn't have a good description of the shooter or the vehicle.

Police haven't released the name of the officer but say he's 28 years old and has been with the department about four years.

"It's always tragic to see it any neighborhood," Sack said. "When it's one of yours it reinforces to us the importance of the work that we do and our commitment to the community to solve these kind of crimes."

Copyright 2014 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch