SYLMAR, Los Angeles — An LAPD officer was rushed to a hospital Friday night after being struck by a passing vehicle while investigating a separate crash near Foothill Boulevard and Hubbard Street in Sylmar.
The officer was working near the 13500 block of Foothill Boulevard shortly before 7:48 p.m. when the vehicle struck him, according to an LAPD spokesperson who spoke with KTLA.
The incident immediately triggered a major emergency response, with paramedics and numerous LAPD vehicles arriving at the scene.
Officials began investigating the collision as a possible hit-and-run, as the vehicle involved initially left the area.
Officer Taken to Trauma Center With Multiple Injuries
The injured officer was transported by ambulance to a nearby trauma center, where he was initially reported to be in serious condition, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson.
Police later said the officer had suffered multiple injuries but was in stable condition.
Video captured from SKY 5 showed the scale of the response at the crash scene. Paramedics could be seen attending to the officer before he was placed on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance.
Several LAPD vehicles surrounded the area as fellow officers responded to the incident.
The officer was then escorted to a local hospital by other members of the department, highlighting the seriousness of the situation and the immediate effort to get him medical attention.
Police Track Down Vehicle and Suspected Driver
The search for the vehicle did not last long.
According to LAPD, officers located the vehicle involved in the collision and the suspected driver about a mile from the original crash scene near Sutter Avenue.
Police found the suspect at approximately 8:40 p.m., less than an hour after the officer was struck.
The suspected driver was taken into custody as investigators continued working to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision.
The suspect was also injured in the crash, although those injuries were described as minor. The individual was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Possible Hit-and-Run Investigation Underway
Authorities are continuing to investigate why the vehicle struck the officer and what happened immediately afterward.
At the time of the collision, the officer was already at the scene of another crash and was carrying out his duties when he was hit by the passing vehicle.
The initial circumstances led authorities to investigate the incident as a possible hit-and-run, although police later located both the vehicle and the suspected driver.
Investigators are expected to examine the crash scene, vehicle damage and available evidence to establish exactly how the collision occurred.
The identities of the officer and suspected driver have not been provided in the information released so far.
For the LAPD officer, the immediate priority remains recovery after suffering multiple injuries in the line of duty. His condition was later upgraded from serious to stable, providing some relief following the frightening crash.
The incident also serves as a reminder of the dangers officers can face while working at roadside crash scenes, where passing traffic can create additional hazards even after an initial collision has occurred.
What do you think about the quick police response that led to the suspect’s arrest? Share your thoughts in the comments.