KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
A driver of a white pick up truck allegedly hit an on-duty LAPD motorcycle officer’s vehicle on purpose, driving into the back of the officer’s vehicle on the Interstate 5 freeway near Castaic Wednesday morning, according to CHP officials.
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“We have no doubt this was an intentional act,” said CHP Capt. Edward Krusey during a news conference. “The officer was in full uniform on an LAPD motorcycle. It should have been extremely obvious to the person. Obviously, the suspect is outstanding, so we don’t know what his train of thought was at the time of the incident.”
The 28-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department was on duty in route to work, said Alfonso Lopez, an LAPD captain and commanding officer of the Central Traffic Division for the department.
The officer was able to maintain his position on the motorcycle and was able to make it over to the shoulder and stop, according to Lopez.
“He allowed his training to react and he performed adequately,” said Lopez
The officer has been riding a motorcycle for 12 years and LAPD motorcycle officers go through extensive training, Lopez noted.
The scene occurred from Parker Road and Hasley Canyon Road, covering multiple lanes, said Krusey.
The officer was taken to the hospital for non-threatening injuries and has already been released, said Krusey.
The officers urged that if anyone had witnessed anything from the scene or had cameras active used to monitor traffic collisions to review the footage and report any information to 661-294-5540.
The officer was transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, according to CHP officer Eric Priessman.
“It’s a felony hit and run per witnesses, said CHP Sgt. Miler. “We’re looking for a white Toyota pickup.”
“[The injuries] don’t seem to be life threatening, said Miler. “He’s going to make it.”
The hit and run incident was reported at 9:33 a.m. and CHP officers arrived on scene by 9:45 a.m.
Perry Smith Contributed to this article.
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at [email protected].
These intentional and “Ops sorry I didn’t see you but you were riding too fast…” auto vs motorcycles are happening with more and more frequency here in So Cal. This is just unacceptable behavior where the vehicle hits a LEO. Plan and simple this is Assault with a Deadly Weapon and should be pursued and prosecuted as such. This is in addition to the Felony Hit and run charges. We all need to be on the look out for the vehicle described and report it with license plate info. Please let law enforcement know, even if you are not positive. They will investigate your lead and if the person is innocent they will be free to go.
This is one of the many reasons why lane splitting is so important to all motorcyclist. It dont give idiots like this time to ram into you from behind.
And it may not of been an intentional act, the driver could of been texting, dialing their phone, eating, putting on makeup, reading the newspaper, smoking weed, ect.
I see or smell in the weed instance, all of the above daily on my commute from SCV to SFV.
Man, I sure hope someone saw something, better yet, got it on tape! Peoples’ behavior has totally gotten out of hand these days, and I’m afraid society is going down the tubes in general! Unacceptable actions like this must come to justice quickly! Can’t let someone get away with something like that! Absolutely NO boundaries anymore. Really sad….No consideration for others, no manners, no respect for elders or authority, and now purposely trying to kill police is becoming the norm?! Nuts, man! Terrible…. I’m afraid the future doesn’t bode too well for our children and grand children. Pretty much feel sorry for them! Use to be every generation had it better than the last. Parents would tell their kids how easy they have it and how bad they had it. ” Are you kidding, when I was younger, we had to blah-blah-blah….” NOW parents realize how much better THEY had it than the kids do now, and most times probably don’t even wanna bum them out by actually pointing out how bad it is now compared to when they were coming up! Sad, just sad indeed.
Randy….you took the words right out of my mouth…so to speak….times are definitely headed in the wrong direction and “things” are so much worse now….they truly were the “good ole’ days. My kids and grandkids are sadly in for a rude awakening I’m afraid.
Randy, I couldn’t agree with you more.
I have ridden motorcycles since 1976 on the streets and freeways of LA. I have done some stupid stuff, lane splitting for example. It seems that drivers are more distracted now and motorcycle riders are more aggressive, just showing up in space previously unoccupied. This creates a dangerous situation.
I don’t understand why motor officers are allowed to take their bikes home on taxpayer dollars, but it is common practice. Quite a few live in this area. While on my way home in traffic (in a car now) often motor officers fly by splitting lanes and darting in and out of traffic. They just want to get home too. What happened to setting an example? My kids always looked up to the police and I am sure seeing this behavior just causes others to do the same. I am not sure if this was the case here, but I am concerned that this practice is allowed by many departments.
It would be nice to think this was not intentional, who knows. What we do know is many accidents like this are caused by riders actions.
If it was intentional, I hope they find this guy (or girl).
Anonymous, WOW!
Have you heard “2 wrongs don’t make a right?”
No motorcycle rider (which yes I ride) deserves to have someone to come up from behind you and hit you while you are riding and then not just once, but several times! This officer is lucky he was able to control his bike during this crazy ordeal!
People are just loosing their minds out here! We got crazed person with no plates in a dark color Honda shooting a gun in Canyon Country over windshield wiper water now this crazy person in a White full size pick up truck???? People take a chill pill! Pull it together!
Anonymous, I agree with you. MC riders are getting to close to me from behind now. Yes, I purposely don’t let them by. They can get into the lane next to me like a car and pass me.
Officers should not take their bikes home. Studies have shown, at least in LAPD, that most accidents involving MC officers are occurring to and from work. I have paced them also at speeds exceeding 80 MPH.
My best was when one of them pulled me over for speeding when I was following them. He got behind me, pulled me over, and said I was speeding. I told him he was doing the same and asked for his supervisor. He gave me my license back and left.
This explains why two southbound lanes of the 5 were closed for about eight hours, well into afternoon rush hour. The backup was horrible (more horrible than usual.)
I have loads of close friends in law enforcement (including LAPD and motor officers) and they need to catch the perp and make him pay, but this part of the “investigation” was way overboard… wondering what it contributed to catching the perp and making a case.