CHP Motorcyclist Seriously Injured by Red Light Runner in Placer County

PLACER COUNTY, CA (May 4, 2024) — A California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer on a motorcycle suffered serious injuries after being struck by a car in Placer County. The incident occurred early in the morning at approximately 6:35 a.m. along Highway 49 at Shale Ridge Road near Auburn.

According to CHP Auburn spokesperson Yvette Norman, the collision happened when a southbound vehicle on Highway 49 ran a red light and collided with the northbound motorcyclist. 

The officer was ejected from his motorcycle due to the impact. “She stopped, thought it was clear, and then proceeded through the intersection, but it was still a red light,” Norman explained. The driver involved in the crash admitted she was late to work at the time of the accident.

The officer was quickly transported to a local hospital with major injuries. The vehicle that hit the motorcycle sustained significant damage to its front bumper, indicating the severity of the crash.

The area where the Placer County motorcycle accident occurred has variable speed limits, rising from 45 mph to 55 mph, and eventually to 65 mph. Highway 49 was closed from Shale Ridge Road to Dry Creek Road for about five hours to allow for an investigation and cleanup.