CHP officer struck by vehicle on the 5 Freeway in Sylmar
A California Highway Patrol officer is in critical condition after he was struck by a vehicle on the 5 Freeway in Sylmar early Sunday morning, authorities said.
The officer was hit around 3:30 a.m. while responding to a disabled vehicle on the southbound 5 Freeway, north of State Route 14, according to CHP Officer Elizabeth Kravig.
He suffered “major injuries” after a 2023 Tesla struck him, according to a news release from the CHP’s Southern Division. The officer, whose name has not been released, was rushed to a local trauma center and is in critical condition, according to CHP.
The driver of the Tesla pulled over and is cooperating with investigators. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to have been a factor in the crash, authorities said. It is unknown if any automated driving features were activated on the Tesla at the time of the collision, they said.
All southbound lanes on the 5 Freeway north of State Route 14 were closed for hours Sunday morning and reopened at 10:30 a.m., she said.
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