A police car crashed into a church yesterday afternoon in Campbellton, New Brunswick, leaving one officer seriously hurt.

The RCMP officer was dispatched to a robbery in progress on O'Leary Street around noon, when en route with lights and sirens, he tried to pass a truck on Andrew Street, and then failed to make a turn on to Aberdeen Street.

The car then crashed into the Campbellton Anglican Church.

"At that point, bystanders came to the assistance of the officer that was injured in the vehicle. They removed him from the vehicle and one bystander used the police radio on that officer and called for help," Sgt. Stephen Dibblee said.

The officer was in surgery for about six hours in Bathurst Hospital with serious injuries to his legs. He is expected to have surgery again later this week.

He has multiple fractures to his legs and is expected to be off work for at least a year, according to Sgt. Alain Tremblay.

"He was of course very tired, under strong medication ... and the doctor thinks [he'll make] a full recovery, however it'll take time," Tremblay said.

No one else was hurt, and one corner of the church is damaged.

The suspect in the incident to which the officer was responding was caught.