A California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer was seriously injured in a collision on Interstate 8 Thursday night.
The crash happened at around 9:40 p.m. on westbound I-8 east of Main Street in El Cajon, according to CHP Officer Travis Garrow.
The officer was side-swiped by a car at high rate of speed, according to Garrow, when he was merging from the median to the passing or fast lane.
Two CHP officers were in the center divider of westbound I-8 helping a disabled vehicle moments before the crash.
A CHP patrol car was parked behind the disabled vehicle and was using rear emergency lights with directional arrows to alert drivers to move over to the right.
The officer who was struck had just pulled away from the disabled vehicle and moved from the center divide to the left lane, also known as the passing or fast lane.
That's when a white Chevy Camaro struck the officer, investigators said.
After the collision, CHP said the officer was able to ride his bike back onto the shoulder before being transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital.
The driver of the Camaro was identified as 25-year-old Richard Chambers from El Cajon, Garrow told NBC 7. Chambers exited the freeway at West Main Street and was soon contacted by officers.
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Chambers was later arrested on suspicion of DUI.
A 41-year-old woman was also inside the Camaro, CHP said. She and Chambers were not injured.
A CHP official said the officer is 44 years old and a 16-year veteran of the department. He is expected to make a full recovery, officials said.
