A Sonoma Sheriff’s deputy was injured early Monday morning when their car was hit by a DUI driver in Petaluma. The deputy was in the middle of pulling over another vehicle on Lakeville Highway around 2 a.m. when their patrol car was struck from behind.
Multiple units, including other deputies, the California Highway Patrol, Petaluma PD, and Sonoma County Fire District personnel, responded to the scene. The deputy was transported to the hospital and was subsequently released.
Both drivers involved in the incident, including the one pulled over by the deputy, sustained injuries.
Images from the scene reveal the patrol vehicle’s crumpled rear end and deployed airbags.
The CHP determined that the individual who rear-ended the deputy was driving under the influence and arrested him. The CHP is currently overseeing the investigation.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face on the roads. According to the SCSO, last year in the United States, 31 peace officers died in car accidents, and 15 were killed after being hit by vehicles.