CHP officer, tow truck driver struck while assisting earlier crash on 10 Freeway

A California Highway Patrol officer and a tow truck driver were injured in a crash while they worked to clear an earlier accident on the 10 Freeway near downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, authorities said.

The CHP was notified shortly before 10 a.m. that a Toyota Prius had been involved in a crash and was blocking a westbound lane of the 10 near Normandie Avenue, CHP Officer Amber Wright said.

A CHP officer parked his motorcycle near the center median and began directing traffic as a tow truck driver hooked up the Prius, Wright said.

About 10:38 a.m., a gray Nissan Altima driving in the left lane slammed into the officer’s motorcycle, causing it to strike the officer and tow truck driver and knocking both of them to the ground, Wright said. The Altima also crashed into the disabled Prius before coming to a stop, images from the scene show.

The driver of the Altima tried to run away but was detained by a bystander, Wright said. He and several passengers were taken to a hospital, along with the officer and tow truck driver, she said. Their conditions were not available Thursday afternoon.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said that three people, including the CHP officer, suffered serious injuries.

There was no word on whether the driver of the Altima would be charged. Authorities said they were continuing to investigate.

The westbound 10 Freeway was closed at Normandie Avenue, along with the southbound and northbound 110 Freeway to the westbound 10 connectors and the Hoover Street and Vermont Avenue onramps, Wright said. The closures were expected to last until about 4 p.m., she said.