LAPD Officer Placed on Leave After Crash

A police officer has been placed on paid leave while in jail for allegedly driving drunk and causing an off-duty car accident that left a 19-year-old with serious burns on almost half his body, the Los Angeles Police Department reported Friday.

James A. Reyes, 35, a North Hollywood Division officer was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony drunk driving at about 3:20 a.m. Thursday after his car smashed into the rear of a disabled sedan on the northbound Golden State Freeway, causing the car to catch fire. He has been placed on leave while he is incarcerated but is still on the city’s payroll, an LAPD spokesman said Friday.

Samuel Yamada of Valencia was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, then transferred to the intensive burn unit of County-USC Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition Friday.

Yamada suffered second- and third-degree burns on more than 40% of his body, a County-USC spokeswoman said.

Reyes was treated for a forehead cut at Providence Holy Cross.

Yamada’s car was stopped in the second lane of the Golden State Freeway just north of the Hollywood Freeway when Reyes’ car hit it, said Sgt. Ernie Sanchez of the California Highway Patrol, which is investigating the accident.

Officers at the scene arrested Reyes because he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, Sanchez said. Police are waiting for blood-alcohol test results, he said.

Times staff writers Joe Trevino and Scott Glover contributed to this story.