CHP Officer Rushed to Hospital After Crash on SR-78

A California Highway Patrol officer suffered major injuries in a crash that shut down a busy North County freeway for at least four hours Tuesday.

The motorcycle officer collided with an SUV in eastbound lanes of State Route 78 near Interstate 15 at about 9 a.m. CHP was still working to determine who was at fault.

The officer, identified only as a 21-year veteran, was transported to Palomar Medical Center with moderate to severe non-life threatening injuries and underwent surgery, according to the CHP.

For reasons still under investigation, the officer rear-ended a Chevrolet Traverse and was ejected from his motorcycle toward the center divider. As the motorcycle slid in the lanes it was struck by a blue Subaru.

The drivers of the Chevrolet and the Subaru remained at the scene, Latulippe added. A nurse driving by also stopped at the scene and assisted the officer.

The investigation shut down three lanes of traffic for several hours. A Sig Alert was issued at about 9:15 a.m. and CHP reopened lanes at about 2:15 p.m.

The closure created slowdown on a major freeway interchange during morning commuting hours.