5 injured in West Town shooting during evening rush hour. “We need to pray for Chicago, we need better for Chicago.”

Daniel Cater, a new driver for Fortune Fish & Gourmet, was about to turn onto Milwaukee Avenue in West Town when he saw two people get out of a car and shoot at another car.

Two bullets hit the top of his truck, inches from his head, and another bullet punctured a tire during the rolling shootout in rush hour traffic late Wednesday afternoon.

“I saw it coming, I knew it was the shoot,” Cater said. “I’m still in shock, it was a near death experience. It’s almost unbelievable … I could have died now. I really don’t feel anything.

At least four passers-by were injured, including one seriously, in the shooting that spread from Hubbard to Grand Streets in Milwaukee around 4:45 p.m., officials said.

A fifth person, possibly a suspect, was also shot, but others involved in the shooting managed to escape, honking their horns at other drivers to get out of their way as people on the sidewalks plunged for shelter or rushed into buildings.

Tyler LaRiviere / Sun-Times

A 29-year-old man was shot in the back and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, police said.

A 30-year-old woman and two men, 25 and 48, were taken to the same hospital in good condition, police said.

Another man, 27, was shot in the arm and taken to Stroger hospital in good condition, police said.

One of the victims is a “possible suspect,” Patrol Leader Brian McDermott told reporters at the scene.

Crystal Wilson, a carpool driver, said a female passenger in her blue Kia was shot dead as the gunmen raced through an intersection.

“I thought the noise was like random fireworks. And then he said, ‘No, I was shot,’ ”Wilson said. “These guys were hanging out in the window shooting. I was trying to focus on not hitting someone else’s car and … making sure my passenger was okay.

Wilson stopped and dialed 9-1-1 when another woman came to help him.

“My head hurts, I’m a little shocked,” Wilson said while waiting for officers to inspect his car. “I live in Indiana so I don’t want to just leave my car.”

Dancello Bennett and Harry McGraw were on their way for a bite to eat when they heard the shots. McGraw fell to the ground as Bennett tried to run inside a building.

“We literally have an office down the street. Just have lunch and [then] it’s like all-out war with guns, like a shootout in the streets, ”Bennett said. “It’s wild.”

McGraw said it looked like a man armed with an SUV was shooting at a car in front of them. He thought he heard 20 to 30 gunshots in 10 seconds.

“It was just amazing knowing these guys are willing to risk everything in the middle of everyone, just reckless driving, reckless shooting,” said McGraw. “So we have to pray for Chicago, we need better for Chicago.”

Michelle Peterson, of Lake View, was having a drink on Clover’s patio, 722 W. Grand Ave., with a friend when she heard what she thought were fireworks.

“By the time we heard it, it was a little too late to do anything about it. Two people were shot right there, ”Peterson said. “In broad daylight, in the middle of a bustling populated area.”