CHP Officer Hit on I-80, Suspect Detained in Fairfield: More Details Released

SACRAMENTO, CA- A CHP officer was hit by a vehicle on I-80 Thursday afternoon, shutting down the freeway and clogging traffic for hours. Following a 50-mile chase along westbound I-80, the suspect was arrested in Fairfield between the Manuel Campos and Air Base Parkway exits, according to CBS news.

KCRA reports, the CHP motorcycle officer was stopped behind the suspect’s vehicle on the freeway shoulder near Madison Avenue around 1:20 p.m., when the suspect hit him.

Officials believe the hit-and-run crash an intentional act because it appeared that the driver backed into the officer, at least, one time before leaving the scene; it is unknown how many times the officer was hit, according to KCRA.

According to reports, the suspect fled the scene of the crash heading westbound on I-80, before ditching his pickup truck and stealing an unlocked truck with keys in it from a construction site. From there, KCRA reports that Solano law enforcement officers stopped the suspect’s vehicle in Fairfield by deploying tack strips.

CHP told KCRA around 7:15 p.m. that the officer had survived surgery and has some swelling, and another update on his condition will be released Friday. Although his identity has not been released, officials report that the officer is married and has children.

Westbound lanes were fully reopened around 6:20 p.m. following investigations with traffic reportedly backed-up into Roseville.

Photo credit Lindsay Crombie