Off-Duty CHP Officer, Rider Suffer Serious Injuries in Crash

An off-duty California Highway Patrol officer and a passenger in his car suffered serious injuries in a San Diego Freeway crash that occurred as they were chasing a driver suspected of being drunk, authorities said Monday.

CHP Officer Jon Dorcy, 36, a nine-year CHP veteran based in the Westminster office, and Diane Tribby, 39, were hurt late Sunday afternoon when their car locked against the pickup truck they were pursuing, forcing both vehicles off the road and into a drainage ditch, CHP Officer Lyle Whitten said.

The driver of the pickup, John Curry Brennan, 37, of El Toro, and his wife, Mary Lee Brennan, 36, suffered minor injuries in the 5:38 p.m. incident.

Whitten said the truck reportedly was speeding and weaving as it was heading south near the interchange with the Garden Grove Freeway.

Whitten said Dorcy began to pursue the pickup truck after Dorcy saw it passing by at an estimated 75 m.p.h. and observing that the driver of the truck appeared to be hitting the woman in the cab. Dorcy pulled alongside the truck, then unfastened his seat belt to reach for his badge in order to warn the truck driver, Whitten said. At that point, however, the pickup swerved sharply to the right and locked against Dorcy’s vehicle, Whitten said, and both vehicles went over an eight-foot embankment and into a drainage ditch.

Dorcy suffered a broken hip and was taken to Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center. Tribby suffered major back injuries and was taken to Humana Hospital-Westminster.

Whitten said John Brennan was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.