Accident Backs Up Traffic on I-80; CHP Officer Hurt

Traffic in both directions slowed on Interstate 80 near Greenback Lane Tuesday morning due to an accident involving a California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer, the CHP reported.

The wreck took place around 7:40 a.m., according to the CHP, and the two far-left lanes of westbound 80 were closed off at 9:30 a.m. CHP spokeswoman Lizz Dutton said they will be closed until roughly 11 a.m. 

The accident occurred when a vehicle that was rear-ended was pushed into the carpool lane, directly in front of the CHP officer, Dutton said. "He was ejected and thrown and hit the guard rail in the center median," she said. 

His injuries are non-life threatening, but the officer may have broken some bones, Dutton said. He was transported to Mercy San Juan Medical Center. 

The CHP motorcycle officer was in the carpool lane, when a Toyota Corolla that had been rear-ended by a Chevy Cruise vehicle was pushed in front of him, Dutton said. The driver of the Chevy, a 55-year-old woman, tried to change to the No. 3 lane, and when she looked forward again, traffic had stopped and she rear-ended the Toyota, Dutton said. 

The driver of the Toyota, a 55-year-old woman, was transported to Mercy Medical Center with minor injuries, the CHP reported. 

Both sides of traffic are slow, Dutton said, as the "east-bound side is looking on west-bound."