ACR FLT CREW ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE ON DESCENT AND APPROACH INTO DCA. EMS MET THE AIRCRAFT AND TRANSPORTED TWO FLT ATTENDANTS AND ONE PASSENGER TO THE HOSPITAL. AIRCRAFT GROUNDED FOR INSPECTION.

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ON THE ELDEE ARR COMING INTO DCA; WE ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB FOR APPROX 25 MI. WE SAW SOME BENIGN LOOKING CLOUDS AND THE CAPT HAD INSTRUCTED THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO CLEAN UP EARLY BECAUSE THERE WAS GUSTY CONDITIONS FORECASTED AND IT COULD BE BUMPY. THE FLT ATTENDANT #1 WAS SEATED AND FLT ATTENDANT #2 AND FLT ATTENDANT #4 WERE JUST FINISHING UP WHEN WE GOT INTO THE TURBULENT AIR. WE WERE CLRED TO 15000 FT AT DOCCS; 250 KTS -- WE ENDED UP AT 13700 FT AND OFF THE ARR. ATC WAS CALLING US; I TOLD THEM WE WERE EXPERIENCING MODERATE TO SEVERE TURB AND I'D LET THEM KNOW WHEN WE WERE IN CTL AGAIN. AT ONE POINT IT LOOKED LIKE WE WERE OUT OF THE TURB AND I WAS ABLE TO COM; BUT IT STARTED AGAIN BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO SWITCH RADIOS WHEN THEY WANTED US TO. ONCE CLR; ATC CLRED US TO WZZRD AT 14000 FT WHERE WE PICKED UP THE REST OF THE ARR AND LANDED VIA THE RIVER VISUAL AT DCA. THE CAPT TALKED TO THE FLT ATTENDANTS; BUT THE SITUATION IN THE CABIN WAS UNCLR SO WE DECIDED THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO GET THE AIRPLANE ON THE GND. I TOLD ATC WHAT HAPPENED. EMS MET US AT THE GATE. TWO FLT ATTENDANTS AND 1 PAX WERE INJURED. THE ACFT WAS TAKEN OTS. IN HINDSIGHT; I SHOULD HAVE DECLARED AN EMER; BUT WE WERE ALREADY WITHIN SIGHT OF THE FIELD AND ATC KNEW WHAT HAPPENED.