LAPD Officer Hurt In One Of 2 Crashes That Shut Down 405 Freeway Overnight
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — A Los Angeles Police Department officer was seriously injured when he was struck by a suspected drunk driver in one of two crashes that caused a full closure of the San Diego (405) Freeway in the Sawtelle area early Tuesday morning.
The crash involving the officer happened at 11:47 p.m. Monday near Santa Monica Boulevard, California Highway Patrol Officer Tony Polizzi said.
The officer, who had just pulled over a speeding vehicle in the northbound lanes, was out of his car when he was struck, pinning him between the suspect vehicle and the police cruiser. He was rushed to a hospital with serious injuries but was expected to survive.
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The driver that struck the officer was arrested on felony DUI charges, Polizzi said. His passenger was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
Three right lanes were initially blocked, but all lanes were closed to traffic at about 2 a.m. for the collision investigation. All but one lane was reopened by 7:30 a.m.
At 4:07 a.m., a separate crash shut down the southbound lanes of the freeway. It wasn't immediately clear if anyone was injured in that crash, Polizzi said.
All southbound lanes were reopened at about 5 a.m.