(WTTW News)

Four Northwestern University employees were injured Thursday after they were struck by a falling tree on campus.

According to a statement from the Evanston Police Department, three of the four people struck were hospitalized with “serious injuries,” while a fourth was treated at the scene. Northwestern confirmed all four people are university employees.

“Our thoughts are with them as we await updates on their conditions,” the university said in a statement.

The tree fell near the Jacobs Center — which houses administrative offices for multiple Northwestern departments — and officials are asking people to avoid that area as crews work to assess the trees and power lines in the area for potential damage.

The Jacobs Center is located at 2001 Sheridan Road in Evanston. According to Northwestern, the sidewalk on the east side of Sheridan Road between Foster Street and Garrett Place remains closed as of 2:45 p.m. while Sheridan Road itself remains open to vehicular traffic.

Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431