CHP Officer Badly Hurt After Getting Struck By SUV On Snowy I-80
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) -- Officials say a patrol officer was hospitalized with major injuries after being hit by a SUV as he provided traffic control on a treacherous mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada.
The California Highway Patrol said the officer was struck Saturday afternoon on Interstate 80 at Donner Summit. He was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
It happened around 2:30 p.m. on the Castle Peak exit ramp. The CHP officer was out of his vehicle, just wrapping up after responding to an earlier collision when a Nissan Pathfinder struck him.
The officer flew several feet and landed facedown in the median, according to authorities.
Westbound lanes were closed for about an hour as authorities investigated the accident.
CalFire couldn't airlift the officer because of the bad weather. Instead he was transported by ambulance to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno.
"We know he is in stable but very serious situation and he is suffering from major injuries," said CHP Officer Pete Mann.
Meantime, heavy snow continues to fall on Donner Summit and a winter storm advisory remains in effect until Sunday afternoon.
Chain control is also in effect on the mountain pass because of heavy snow.
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