San Diego Accident Blog

Traffic is getting back to normal after a horrific car accident on the 405 freeway injured a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer and three others yesterday.  Currently, the officer’s condition or other details of his personal injuries are unknown.

According to LAist, a multi-car accident on the 405 / San Diego Freeway shutdown traffic on the north and southbound lanes for most of the day as the CHP tried to piece together what happened.

San Diego Freeway was closed after a car accident injured a CHP officer on a motorcycle.

A California Highway Patrol officer was injured on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles. (Source: LA Times)

Around 8:35 a.m., Officer Phillip Ortiz — who was outfitted on a motorcycle that morning — pulled over a Honda SUV.  At that point that an Infiniti sedan — speeding in the shoulder on the freeway — collided with the Ortiz and the other vehicles.

The driver of the Infiniti “will be a major focus of our investigation,” CHP Officer Mark Garrett told the Daily News.  ”At some point our investigators will be interviewing him.  After that, they will determine what if any charges may be filed against him.”

Ortiz is currently receiving medical treatment at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

Motorcycle injuries usually don’t involve incidents were the motorcycle is stopped and the rider is off of the vehicle, but this goes to show how little protection you have out on the road.  Even if the officer was on his motorcycle, there would be no barriers on the motorcycle to shield him or absorb part of the impact.  It is dangerous to be outside a vehicle on a major highway.

UPDATE: According to a press release, Ortiz passed away “succumbed to his injuries on June 22, 2010 at approximately 5:50 P.M.”  He was 48-years-old.

Our firm’s San Diego car accident lawyers are dedicated to keeping people safe out on the road, no matter what kind of vehicle they drive.  That’s why we set up a motorcycle accident blog so that you can have a resource for protecting yourself while on motorcycle.

Hopefully you never have to experience an accident, like this, but if you were hurt in a motorcycle or car accident, our firm is here to help you. Call us now at 1-800-655-6585 for a FREE consultation with an experienced San Diego car accident lawyer or click here to submit your case for a FREE Online review.