2 CHP Officers, 3 Others Hurt After Driver Hits Patrol Car

Five people, including two California Highway Patrol officers, were injured when a drunk driver plowed into a patrol cruiser parked on the shoulder of the Costa Mesa Freeway near the San Diego Freeway in Santa Ana early Saturday, authorities said.

The crash occurred about 1:45 a.m. after two CHP officers, whose names were not immediately available, pulled their cruiser onto the shoulder of the southbound Costa Mesa Freeway behind the disabled car of Kim Anderson, 28, of Garden Grove, CHP dispatcher Joe David said.

As the two officers stood outside the cruiser with their doors open, a car driven by Timothy Stone, 27, of Fountain Valley hit the left rear of the patrol car, slid along the vehicle’s left side and hit one of the patrolmen, who was thrown 15 feet, David said. His partner, who was standing on the right side of the cruiser, was also injured.

The patrol car was pushed into Anderson’s car, which struck her, David said.

The officer who was thrown underwent surgery for major injuries and was in guarded condition Saturday at Healthcare Medical Center of Tustin, David said.

The other officer was treated for cuts on his lower left leg at Healthcare Medical Center and released, David said.

Anderson was treated for a broken leg, bruises and cuts at the medical center, David said.

Stone was treated for a broken nose at Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. His passenger, James Eckweker, 24, of Fountain Valley was treated for minor injuries at Healthcare Medical Center and released, David said.

Stone was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving, David said.