CHP officer seriously injured while assisting stranded car on Freeway 5 – Press Release

A California Highway Patrol officer is in critical condition after being struck by a Tesla while assisting a stranded vehicle on the 5 Freeway in the Newhall area early Sunday morning.

The accident occurred at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning on the southbound highway, north of State Route 14. Officers were dispatched to assist a stalled vehicle and began attempts to move it off the roadway, the CHP reported.

“As the CHP officer assisted the disabled vehicle, the officer, who was standing next to his patrol car, was struck by a 2023 Tesla,” the agency said. “The CHP officer sustained serious injuries, was transported to a local trauma center and is currently in critical condition.”

The Tesla stopped on the right shoulder and the driver cooperated with the investigation, the authority said. Alcohol and drugs are unlikely to have played a role in the accident.

It was not known whether automated driving features were activated in the Tesla at the time of the accident.

The southbound highway was closed north of SR14 for hours while the accident was investigated. All lanes were reopened around 10:30 a.m.

Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call the CHP Southern Division at 323-644-9550.