Motorcycle Officer Hit By Car Is Recovering After Surgery
A 15-year veteran motorcycle police officer was in the intensive care unit of Providence Holy Cross Medical Center on Saturday, recovering from injuries he sustained when he was struck by a car Friday morning.
Officer Wayne Valdez, of the Valley Traffic Division, underwent several hours of surgery on Saturday and was listed in serious but stable condition, a hospital spokeswoman said Saturday night.
Hospital officials refused to specify what injuries he suffered but said Valdez is expected to survive.
The accident occurred when Valdez, making a left turn onto westbound Lassen Street in pursuit of a speeder, was hit by a white Ford Thunderbird traveling north on Woodman Avenue, police said. Valdez was flashing the motorcycle’s red lights as he tried to pull over the speeding car.
Valdez was rushed to the hospital by paramedics. The driver of the Thunderbird was not ticketed for the accident, police said.
Police are investigating the cause of the crash.
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