CHP officer killed in Lake Elsinore crash; southbound lanes of 15 Freeway remain closed
A California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer was fatally injured Saturday in a crash on the southbound 15 Freeway in Lake Elsinore, a collision that closed the southbound lanes at Lake Street for hours and injured at least two other people.
The officer was identified by the CHP on its Facebook page as Sgt. Steve Licon.
Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies and medical personnel assembled outside Inland Valley Regional Medical Center in Wildomar to honor Licon as his body was taken from the hospital to the Riverside County Coroner’s office in Perris. Residents and officials lined roads for the procession.
RIGHT NOW: Officers have gathered outside hospital to honor CHP officer killed in accident on 15 fwy. @NBCLA pic.twitter.com/NtUkhnWqsi
— Stephanie Miranda (@StephNBC4) April 7, 2019
Drove by a bad accident involving a @CHP_HQ officer on the 15fwy near Nichols Rd. earlier. Praying for his recovery.
— Chief Travis Walker (@CCPDWALKER) April 7, 2019
UPDATE 2: SB I-15 is fully closed from Indian Truck Trail to Nichols Rd. due to a police investigation. Avoid the area if possible. Traffic is being diverted off Indian Truck trail. Unknown duration. Police Investigation. https://t.co/QaVymKXu3F
— Caltrans District 8 (@Caltrans8) April 7, 2019
The crash happened just before 4:30 p.m., when a black sedan crashed into the CHP motorcycle officer who was on the right shoulder of the 15 Freeway with another vehicle, according to CHP logs. Broadcast helicopter footage showed the motorcycle entangled between two cars.
#BREAKING: Newschopper4 Bravo now on scene of a crash in Lake Elsinore area. CHP officer injured. Aerials appear to show CHP motorcycle smashed between two cars. Southbound lanes shutdown. @NBCLA pic.twitter.com/s7csodJ0tv
— Stephanie Miranda (@StephNBC4) April 7, 2019
A SigAlert was issued and the CHP log indicated the officer injured in the crash was transported to the Wildomar hospital.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office is assisting in the investigation, DA’s spokesman John Hall said.
Tawny Cabral, spokeswoman for Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department, said three total people were transported via ambulance to the Wildomar hospital. The Fire Department didn’t immediately have information on the conditions of those who survived.
The crash happened in an area that has seen heavy traffic in recent weeks because of the spectacular poppy blooms in the nearby hills. It wasn’t immediately known if the flower-viewing traffic contributed to the collision.
This story is developing, check back for updates.