Injured CHP Officer Expected Back On Duty Next Week

A California Highway Patrol officer who was injured in a Lake Elsinore freeway crash Wednesday may be back on duty next week.

“He is a little banged up, but due to being in excellent physical condition he should return to work Monday,” said CHP spokesman Officer Nathan Baer.

Officer R. Villegas was hurt on the southbound 15 Freeway near the Railroad Canyon Road/Diamond Drive exit during Wednesday evening rush hour traffic after he slammed on his brakes to avoid hitting a Chevrolet van.

“Officer Villegas was negotiating his patrol vehicle through slower moving traffic, while responding to an injury traffic collision on Interstate 15 northbound, [at] Bundy Canyon Road,” Baer said.

As Villegas made a lane change, the van made the same change in front of him, Baer explained. “In order to avoid a collision …, Officer Villegas took evasive action.”

Witnesses said Villegas hit the brakes hard, lost control of his car and smashed into a guardrail. to read about the crash.

No other vehicles were involved and no other injuries were reported.

Villegas was transported to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar with trauma to his right side, according to CHP Officer Ernie Sanchez, who was on the scene Wednesday with crash investigators.

“Witnesses … called 9-1-1 emergency and provided a California license plate number for the Chevy van,” Baer said. “Follow up investigation is being performed on the Chevy van at this time.”

Baer described the van as a white utility type. The license plate number was not released.

The crash caused significant backup on the freeway and forced a SigAlert to be issued.