CHP officer airlifted after crash with semi-truck in Merced County, authorities say

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- The California Highway Patrol is used to responding to emergencies, but on Wednesday morning, the call that came in sent chilling news... a crash involving one of their own.

Officer Eric Zuniga says an officer on duty was hit by a semi-truck pulling a single trailer on Highway 59 near Turlock Rd in Merced County.

"You hear the radio and you're like, is this really happening and you hope for the best," said Zuniga.

He says the big rig was heading northbound and the officer involved was heading southbound.

"For whatever reason, he attempted to make a U-turn. I'm assuming he was trying to catch a speeder in front of the big rig and he probably never saw the big rig and was hit on the passenger side, T-boned," said Zuniga.

The impact sent the officer in his pick-up toward trees on the side of the road.

Officer Zuniga says a good samaritan called 911 and another officer on duty was nearby, quickly responding.

The man driving the semi was not injured.

The officer wasn't pinned in but Zuniga says his door was jammed and firefighters used the jaws of life to free him.

He was airlifted to the hospital in Modesto and while he suffered several injuries, he was awake bringing a sense of relief.

"He's got a couple of broken bones but he was talking when they put him in the helicopter. We come out here and come to work and we never think something like this is going to happen but it just makes us think. We are human," said Zuniga

Officer Zuniga says this crash was a big reality check.

Northbound Highway 59 remains closed off at Turlock Road as of 5 p.m. Wednesday. The CHP is asking drivers to avoid the area or take an alternative route as authorities work to clear the scene.

The officer, whose identity has not been released, has been with the department for over 24 years.

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