SigAlert: CHP Officer Struck On 10 Freeway

LOS ANGELES, CA — The California Highway Patrol issued a SigAlert for the Santa Monica (10) Freeway Monday morning after an officer was struck by an SUV while trying to apprehend a pedestrian running into traffic. The officer has been hospitalized with major injuries.

"The officer exited her patrol vehicle and gave the pedestrian verbal commands to stop," according to a CHP statement. "The pedestrian ignored her commands and jumped over the center divider wall attempting to flee by running within the ... eastbound lanes."

The officer, whose name was not released, chased the man on foot in an effort to safely remove him from traffic at about 7:15 a.m. near Arlington Avenue,

"Before the officer could reach the pedestrian, she was struck by a vehicle traveling eastbound within the No. 1 lane," the CHP reported. "The pedestrian was apprehended by motorists who observed the incident, and was then placed under arrest."

The pedestrian, who was not immediately identified, was not injured.

The driver of the GMC Yukon that hit the officer was not arrested, the CHP reported.

The SigAlert was expected to last throughout the morning, and drivers were advised to avoid the area.

The incident forced the closure of the Nos. 1 and 2 lanes of the westbound freeway and Nos. 1- 4 lanes of the eastbound freeway were closed in the area while an investigation was conducted.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.