CHP Officer Struck on I-215 During Traffic Stop

A California Highway Patrol officer suffered minor injuries Tuesday on Interstate 215 in Murrieta after being thrust down an embankment, authorities said.

At about 9:35 a.m. Tuesday, CHP Officer Mike McCracken had pulled over to cite a driver on the right shoulder of northbound Interstate 215, just past Clinton Keith Road, according to a news release.

While McCracken was speaking with the driver, who had been speeding, a tractor trailer driven by Joshua Lozano, 29, of Menifee drifted onto the shoulder and collided with the stopped car, said CHP Officer and Spokesperson Nathan Baer.

"This vehicle then hit Officer McCracken and pushed him down a descending embankment," Baer said.

The tractor trailer caused major damage to the left side of the car, he said.

"Fortunately, the citizen and Officer McCracken appeared to have received only minor injuries and were not transported to the hospital," Baer said.

The incident prompted authorities to remind motorists to exercise caution, as there is a reduced speed limit—55 mph—through the area during the freeway widening project.

Drivers were reminded of the “Move Over or Slow Down” law, which states:

“a person driving a vehicle on a freeway approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle that is displaying emergency lights or a stationary tow truck that is displaying flashing amber warning lights [must] approach with due caution, and before passing in the lane immediately adjacent to the stationary vehicle, absent other direction by a peace officer, move into an available lane that is not immediately adjacent to the stationary vehicle or if that lane change would be unsafe or impracticable, to slow to a reasonable and prudent speed. A violation of those requirements is an infraction.”