CHP officers crash on way to I-405 traffic accident in Irvine

California Highway Patrol officers responding to a serious crash on the 405 Freeway in Irvine ended up in a collision of their own early Thursday, according to authorities.

The situation started around 12:40 a.m. when a Hyundai rear-ended a tractor-trailer at a high speed as they both headed south on the 405 near Culver Drive, according to a CHP news release.

The Hyundai’s driver — identified as Juan Luis Espinoza, 34, of Chula Vista — suffered “major injuries” and was taken to a trauma center in Santa Ana, according to authorities.

In reponse to the crash, a nearby CHP patrol car started heading to the scene, but at Jeffrey Road and Walnut Avenue it went through a red light and collided with a red Chevrolet Camaro, according to the CHP.

The two officers in the car had attempted to make sure the intersection was clear, and they had their car lights and siren on, CHP Officer Florentino Olivera said.

One CHP officer was taken to a nearby hospital by a supervisor, and the Camaro’s driver was transported there by paramedics, authorities said.

The second CHP officer was not hurt, Olivera said.

The driver of the tractor-trailer in the original crash was also uninjured, according to the CHP.