La Habra Car Crash Injures Officer, Motorist, Badly Damages Vehicles

A La Habra police officer and another driver were hospitalized Friday night after a vehicle plowed into the side of a patrol car that was turning left at a major intersection, authorities said.

The male officer and the female motorist suffered only minor injuries and were expected to be released from St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton, La Habra Police Lt. Joe Milazzo said.

A Volkswagen Jetta, however, was most likely destroyed in the crash, and the police car was seriously damaged, he said.

The 9:50 p.m. collision occurred as the patrol car turned left from Lambert Road onto the northbound lanes of Harbor Boulevard, the lieutenant said. The car was struck by the Jetta, which was traveling west on Lambert.

Milazzo said investigators had yet to determine who was to blame for the crash. He would not release the name of the officer involved, saying that police were waiting until his family was contacted.