Whittier Officer Struck By Motorist

A Whittier Police Officer remains in stable condition after being stuck by a vehicle this evening. The collision occurred while the Officer was patrolling the 5-mile-long Greenway Trail. The Greenway Trail is a newly developed cycling and walking path that replaced a stretch of railroad that spanned the city. As part of the Police Department's enforcement efforts along the trail, two Officers patrol the trail on a regular basis atop Honda motorcycles.

At 6:08pm, the two officers were traveling westbound on the trail approaching Painter Avenue. As the trail crosses Painter Avenue, it is controlled by a traffic signal and crosswalk. While crossing on the motorcycle, vehicles had come to a complete stop at a red light on Painter Avenue with the exception of the number two southbound lane. As the Officer approached, a vehicle traveling at approximately 30 miles per hour emerged and struck the Officer sending him skyward. The officer came to rest and his partner immediately called for medical assistance while rendering first-aid.

As Paramedics arrived on-scene, they administered first-aid prior to transporting him to Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital where the he remains in stable condition. While the Officer complained of pain in his shoulder and upper legs, x-rays revealed no fractures. The Officer will most likely remain at the hospital overnight as a precautionary measure.

A traffic report was taken at the scene and the collision remains under investigation.