LAPD officers rushed to hospital after drunk driving crash on Highway 57 in Fullerton

FULLERTON, Calif. (KABC) — Two LAPD officers were injured in a crash involving a drunk driving suspect on Highway 57 in Fullerton following a chase, prompting the closure of most northbound lanes Tuesday morning.

The crash happened near the Yorba Linda Boulevard exit around 2 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol traffic log.


At a morning news conference, LAPD Chief Michel Moore said it all started with the pursuit of a suspected stolen vehicle in the department’s Newton division. The chase eventually headed into Orange County and ended on Highway 57 northbound.

“During this pursuit, it was believed that the suspect inside the vehicle had thrown an object from the vehicle,” said Moore, who added that the suspect in the pursuit was later arrested.

The police went back up the pursuit path to try to find what had been thrown from the suspect’s vehicle. While driving on the highway, they were “struck violently” by another driver, Moore said.

The woman driving the Infiniti that struck police was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. She was taken to the hospital with moderate injuries, according to CHP Lt. Matthew Barnachia.

The officers were seriously injured and were transported to UCI Medical Center. They are expected to make a full recovery.

The crash initially closed all northbound lanes, but at least one was reopened to drivers around 5:45 a.m.