CHP Releases Name And Condition Of Officer Injured In FedEx Truck Crash
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - California Highway Patrol has identified 18-year veteran Vincent Smith as the officer hit by a FedEx driver who was allegedly under the influence of a controlled substance.
It happened Saturday morning around 3:30 a.m. on eastbound Highway 50, near 16th Street in Sacramento.
The driver of the FedEx truck was arrested and booked into the Sacramento County Jail.
"He's a very well-liked and a well-respected officer in our department," said Officer Michael Bradley, describing Officer Smith. Smith had just transferred to the South Sacramento office less than a year ago.
Officer Smith was investigating a hit-and-run accident Saturday morning. Not long after he arrived on-scene, a FedEx truck plowed into him - sending the officer to the hospital with major injuries to his upper and lower torso.
"We keep stressing that move over law for emergency vehicles. If you see an emergency vehicle or any vehicle with its lights flashing on the side of the road, you have to move over," Bradley said. "It just shows how being on the shoulder on a freeway is dangerous."
CHP officers say the driver of the FedEx truck was suspected to be driving under the influence of a controlled substance.
Investigators are still trying to determine whether the driver directly hit Officer Smith or crashed into his car.
John Smith is a truck driver from Missouri and says the move over law is a golden rule of thumb for any truck driver. "As soon as you see lights it doesn't matter if it's a mile away or half a mile, as soon as you can see the lights you get in the other lane."
"As soon as you see lights, it doesn't matter if it's a mile away or half a mile. As soon as you can see the lights you get in the other lane," John Smith said.
FedEx released this statement to CBS 13 Sunday night, saying: "FedEx Ground is committed to safety as our top priority and we hold anyone providing service on our behalf contractually responsible for operating safely and complying with the law. We are fully cooperating with investigating authorities and will take the appropriate action to address this matter."