A California Highway Patrol officer was injured after he was struck by a speeding SUV while directing traffic around a Northern California railroad crossing.
The Sacramento Bee reports Saturday that two officers were directing traffic at around 1 a.m. around malfunctioning rail crossing gates near the city of Live Oak some 50 miles north of Sacramento.
Sgt. Nelda Banuelos says an SUV sped around a curve and struck one of the officers. She says the other officer chased down the driver of the SUV after he fled on foot.
Twenty-one-year-old Lucas Julian Nelson was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence with great bodily injury. He is being held on $50,000 bail.
The injured officer was flown to University of California, Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.
CRASH UPDATE While directing traffic, a gray SUV traveling at a high rate of speed failed to stop for a railroad crossing sign and struck a CHP Officer. The officer sustained major injuries and was transported to the hospital. Keep the officer and his family in your prayers. pic.twitter.com/97rcLX9TyA
— CHP Yuba-Sutter (@ChpYuba) October 19, 2019
