Riverside County Deputy In Critical Condition Following Crash

SAN JACINTO, CA — A Riverside County Sheriff's Department deputy was hospitalized Friday in critical condition following a crash in San Jacinto, the law enforcement agency reported.

The crash between the deputy's marked patrol vehicle and a Nissan Maxima occurred at approximately 2:16 a.m. Friday at the intersection of W. Esplanade Avenue and State Street.

The Nissan was heading north on W. State Street while the deputy was driving west on Esplanade. The two vehicles crashed in the intersection, which is controlled by traffic lights. After the initial impact, the deputy's patrol vehicle crashed into a light pole, according to a preliminary report from the California Highway Patrol.

An abc7 video report showed the mangled patrol vehicle and the sedan.

The 26-year-old male deputy, who is stationed out of Hemet, was responding to the area to back another deputy who was on a call for service, according to information from the sheriff's department and the CHP.

The Nissan driver, a 54-year-old Hemet woman, was transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, the CHP reported.

A second deputy suffered a knee injury while trying to pull his critically injured colleague from the wreckage, according to the sheriff's department.

The California Highway Patrol is conducting the ongoing crash investigation.