A Los Angeles Police Department officer was hospitalized Monday after a suspected DUI driver struck the officer and another vehicle on the 405 Freeway.
The officer pulled over a motorist for speeding at 11:47 p.m. near Santa Monica at the time of the crash, according to the California Highway Patrol. The suspected DUI driver then crashed into the officer's cruiser, which caused him to be pinned between the vehicle the car of the motorist he pulled over.
The crash shut down all northbound freeway lanes that are south of Santa Monica Boulevard. All northbound lanes reopened Tuesday morning.
A second car crash temporarily closed all lanes of the southbound 405 Freeway. Police speculated that the crash was caused by rubbernecking. As of 5 a.m., all southband lanes reopened.
The officer suffered a major leg injury, but is expected to survive.
The driver, 34-year-old Douglas Donovan of Woodland Hills, was arrested for possibly driving under the influence.
Donovan was not injured. The driver in the other vehicle also was not injured.
To improve safety on the roadways for emergency workers and first responders, the public should:
- Avoid distractions and maintain their focus on driving.
- Recognize an and react to emergency vehicles on the side of the road in order to "Move Over" to the next lane, and/or "Slow Down" as required by the Move Over and Slow Down laws now enacted in all 50 states.
- Resist "rubber necking" or looking intently at the roadside incident, as your vehicle will follow your eyes. Emergency lights, which are intended to warn other motorists of the presence of emergency vehicles, often attracts motorists and without realizing it, they drive toward the stopped vehicles.
- Not wear headphones or play music so loud as to obstruct the notification provided by sirens approaching from behind or through intersections.
NBC4's Karla Rendon contributed to this report.
