Officer on Motorcycle Hit by Car; Driver Held

A Huntington Beach motorcycle policeman waiting at a traffic light Thursday afternoon was hit from behind and hurled to the pavement by an off-road vehicle, whose driver then fled, officers said.

The injured officer was able to radio a description of the vehicle, and witnesses provided its license number. Police said they sighted and stopped the vehicle three miles from the accident and arrested its driver, a 22-year-old Huntington Beach man, on suspicion of drunk driving and hit-and-run driving.

The injured officer, identified as Sgt. Darrell Klopp, 45, was thrown to the pavement with such force that a chunk of his helmet was gouged away, police said. He was taken to Pacifica Community Hospital in Huntington Beach, where he was treated and sent home.

“The extent of injuries is not known yet,” Huntington Beach Police Sgt. Ed Deuel said. “He’s black and blue and sore all over.”

According to the California Highway Patrol, Klopp was astride his police motorcycle in the northbound fast lane of Golden West Street waiting for the traffic signal to change at Yorktown Avenue.

A Nissan Pathfinder with four people inside drove up behind Klopp, but failed to stop in time, crashing into the motorcycle.

According to police, the driver then sped away in the Nissan and was pulled over at on Farinella Drive near Edwards Street. They identified the driver as Glenn Wayne Hodson, who was being held in the city jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Police said they also took Hodson’s three passengers into custody but later released them.