A collision in Menifee on Sunday evening resulted in injuries to two drivers, one of whom was a police officer, authorities reported.
The incident unfolded around 9:37 p.m. when an officer from the Menifee Police Department, responding to an emergency call regarding a suspected assault with a deadly weapon, entered an intersection with their emergency lights and sirens activated. Tragically, the police vehicle collided with a pickup truck at the intersection, according to a statement released by the police on Monday.
The officer, traveling westbound on Holland Road, collided with the pickup truck driver, who was traveling south on Menifee Road. Both drivers, the sole occupants of their respective vehicles, sustained injuries described as non-life threatening and were transported to the hospital for treatment. Subsequently, the pickup truck driver was discharged from the hospital, while the officer remained stable and was expected to be released within the coming days.
Authorities emphasized the importance of yielding to emergency vehicles at intersections, urging motorists to refrain from entering intersections upon spotting or hearing an emergency vehicle, regardless of the traffic light’s signal.
The California Highway Patrol’s Temecula Area office has assumed responsibility for investigating the collision.