Truckee, CA…On 3/12/16 at approximately 2:25pm a CHP officer was providing traffic control at a traffic collision with an ambulance responding, in the center divide of I-80 westbound, west of Castle Peak. The CHP Officer was actively directing traffic to the rear of his patrol vehicle getting passing motorists to move over to the right.

As he was waving traffic over, a 19 year old Truckee woman was driving a Nissan Pathfinder on I-80 westbound, approaching his location. Traffic began to slow, and for reasons still under investigation, she changed lanes from the right hand lane to the left hand lane, accelerating and passing slowing traffic. As she proceeded westbound she came upon the CHP Officer directing traffic. She lost control of her Nissan Pathfinder, causing her to collide with the CHP Officer as he was on foot. The Officer was projected several feet, landing face down in the center median snow bank. The vehicle also came to rest in the center median snow bank.

The cause of this collision is still under investigation. Drugs and or alcohol are not suspected to be a factor in the collision. The CHP Officer sustained major injuries and was taken to Renown Medical Center.

Storm conditions are not forgiving please use caution as you travel.