CHP identifies officer seriously hurt in Sutter County crash

WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS. WALTER: BREAKING NEWS OUT OF SUTTER COUNTY. 21-YEAR-OLD LUCAS NELSON IS FACING CHARGES OF RESISTING ARREST AND FELONY DUI. AUTHORITIES SAY NELSON STRUCK A CHP OFFICER DIRECTING TRAFFIC EARLY THIS MORNING THE 13-YEAR VETERAN OFFICER OF THE CHP IS NOW IN THE HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS INJURIES. HIS PARTNER CHASED DOWN NELSON TO MAKE THE ARREST. IT HAPPENED ON STATE ROUTE 99. NEAR LIVE OAK BOULEVARD IN THE TOWN OF LOMO, WHICH IS ABOUT SIX MILES NORTH OF YUBA CITY. KCRA 3’S TISH PALAMIDESSI FILLS US IN WITH THE DETAILS OF THE CASE. >> IS A VERY TRAGIC SITUATION. TISH: BOTH DIRECTIONS ON HIGHWAY 99 WERE CLOSED FOR SEVERAL HOURS SATURDAY AS A ROUTINE CALL FOR TRAFFIC ASSISTANCE TURNED LIFE-THREATENING FOR ONE OFFICER. >> THE CROSSING WAS DOWN. OFFICERS WERE OUT HERE DIRECTING TRAFFIC. TISH: RESPONDING TO A CALL OF MEN FELT -- FUNCTIONING CROSSINGS AROUND MIDNIGHT, A VETERAN OFFICER WAS DIVERTING TRAFFIC WITH HIS PARTNER. >> THEY CALLED FOR THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD TO COME OUT. THAT’S WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME IN AND COLLIDED WITH THE OFFICER. TISH: CHP SAYS THIS LEXIS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED NEGLECTED TO SLOW DOWN AND INSTEAD RAN RIGHT INTO ONE OF THE OFFICERS. >> HE WAS TRANSPORTED HERE BY HELICOPTER. TISH: THAT OFFICER FLOWN TO SACRAMENTO AFTER HIS PARTNER HAD TO GIVE CHASE. THE SUSPECTED DUI DRIVER JUMPED FROM HIS CAR AND TRIED TO GET AWAY. >> THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO FLEE. THEY HAD TO DETAIN HIM. THEY WERE ABLE TO RENDER AID TO THE OFFICER. TISH: THE SUSPECT BOOKED INTO SUTTER COUNTY JAIL AND FACING CHARGES. >> IT’S A VERY TRAGIC EVENT. IT HAPPENS ALL TOO OFTEN. TISH: CHP LEFT WORRYING ABOUT THEIR BROTHER OFFICER AND USING THE INCIDENT AS A REMINDER TO THE PUBLIC. THE LAWS IN PLACE TO PROTECT THOSE OUT PROTECTING OUR ROADS. >> IT’S THE LAW. YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN OR MOVE OVER FOR ANY TYPE OF WORKERS ON THE HIGHWAY, WHETHER IT’S LAW-ENFORCEMENT OR EMERGENCY SERVICES OR CALTRANS. YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN. TISH: HERE AT THE UC DAVIS MEDICAL CENTER, THE PRESIDENT A CHP PRESENCE SINCE THE OFFICER ARRIVED FOR TREATMENT. IT WILL STAY THAT WAY THROUGHOUT

The California Highway Patrol officer who was hit by a car while directing traffic in Sutter County on Saturday morning has been identified as Officer David Gordon -- a 13-year veteran of the department.CHP said Gordon was directing traffic at the intersection of Live Oak Boulevard and Highway 99 when a car struck him at a high rate of speed. He was taken to the UC Davis Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition.Gordon has undergone a seven-hour surgery to compound the breaks in his leg and broken arm and his spleen was removed to treat internal bleeding, CHP said Monday. He will undergo surgery Wednesday to treat multiple pelvis fractures, a broken jaw and a broken shoulder blade."This list is by no means all-inclusive of the extent of his injuries. Officer Gordon is facing a long recovery," CHP wrote in a Facebook post.Gordon is a native of Yreka and graduated from Yreka High School in 1994."Gordon entered the CHP Academy in December 2006 and started his career in Santa Rosa. After two and a half years he transferred to the Yuba-Sutter Area," CHP said. "Gordon married his high school sweetheart, Tina, and has two sons ages 12 and 9. He has often credited his family for keeping him sane during the hectic and stressful nights working the graveyard shift. Officer Gordon is respected and admired among his peers for his dedication and consistent work ethic."The driver of the car, Lucas Nelson, was arrested by another officer. CHP believes alcohol was a factor.Nelson faces charges of resisting arrest and felony DUI. He was booked into the Sutter County jail, but posted bail over the weekend.

SUTTER COUNTY, Calif. —

CHP said Gordon was directing traffic at the intersection of Live Oak Boulevard and Highway 99 when a car struck him at a high rate of speed. He was taken to the UC Davis Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition.

Gordon has undergone a seven-hour surgery to compound the breaks in his leg and broken arm and his spleen was removed to treat internal bleeding, CHP said Monday. He will undergo surgery Wednesday to treat multiple pelvis fractures, a broken jaw and a broken shoulder blade.

California Highway Patrol

Officer David Gordon

"This list is by no means all-inclusive of the extent of his injuries. Officer Gordon is facing a long recovery," CHP wrote in a Facebook post.

Gordon is a native of Yreka and graduated from Yreka High School in 1994.

"Gordon entered the CHP Academy in December 2006 and started his career in Santa Rosa. After two and a half years he transferred to the Yuba-Sutter Area," CHP said. "Gordon married his high school sweetheart, Tina, and has two sons ages 12 and 9. He has often credited his family for keeping him sane during the hectic and stressful nights working the graveyard shift. Officer Gordon is respected and admired among his peers for his dedication and consistent work ethic."

The driver of the car, Lucas Nelson, was arrested by another officer. CHP believes alcohol was a factor.

Nelson faces charges of resisting arrest and felony DUI. He was booked into the Sutter County jail, but posted bail over the weekend.

CHP identifies officer seriously hurt in Sutter County crash

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