CHP Officer Struck By Vehicle While Clearing Accident On Interstate 80
DONNER SUMMIT (CBS13) — A California Highway Patrol officer underwent surgery after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 80 on Saturday.
Traffic came to a halt at around 2:30 p.m. after the officer who was wrapping up work from a prior accident was struck by an SUV.
"Most other officers had already cleared that accident, he was there just providing traffic control as they waiting for tow truck," said officer Pete Mann.
That's when the CHP says a Nissan Pathfinder tried to change lanes and struck the officer, sending him flying several feet, landing face down in the median.
The driver has been identified as Ivy Soon Young Villnow. Sunday, the officer was identified as 5-year CHP veteran Nathan Taylor.
"For reasons unknown she moved out into the number one lane to avoid that slowing traffic and at that time made contact with the officer," Mann said.
According to the collision report, Villnow lost control of her vehicle.
Cal Fire rushed to transport Officer Taylor to a hospital, but the weather made it impossible to fly. Instead, it would be a harrowing journey by ambulance to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno.
"We know he is stable but it is a very serious situation and he suffering from major injuries," Mann.
With the snow falling and the worst still to come, Mann fears he hasn't seen the last accident for the evening.
"We've been seeing the hardest snowfall come during the nighttime hours and we're expecting the hardest snow for this yet to come," he said.
