Motorcycle Officer Survives Collision, Then Slide Into Divider

A Santa Ana motorcycle officer survived a horrific collision on the Artesia Freeway on Friday afternoon after he was hit by an out-of-control pickup, then slid headfirst into a cement divider, authorities said.

Officer Rene Cervantes, 34, suffered a broken left ankle, torn ligaments in both legs and scrapes over most of his body. He was listed in stable condition at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana on Friday night, said Santa Ana Sgt. Raul Luna.

“He is very, very, very lucky,” said Luna, adding the officer’s helmet probably saved his life.

Cervantes and another motorcycle officer were on their way to work about 11:50 a.m. when the collision occurred. The two were traveling about 65 mph on the westbound Artesia Freeway near the Imperial Highway exit when a Toyota pickup going the same direction went out of control, Luna said.

The truck driver apparently slammed on his brakes when traffic suddenly slowed. The pickup began to spin across the freeway into the carpool lane, right in front of the two motorcycle officers, Luna said.

The first officer was able to dodge the pickup, but Cervantes slammed into the side of the truck, Luna said. Cervantes was thrown off the motorcycle and slid on his head into the center divider, Luna said.

“One of the witnesses who stopped said he was sure that the officer was dead from the impact,” Luna said.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating. The name of the pickup driver was not available Friday night.

Along with helmets, both officers were wearing short-sleeve shirts and standard-issue uniform pants. They also were wearing bulletproof vests, which may have protected Cervantes from further injury, Luna said.

Before joining the Santa Ana Police Department two years ago, Cervantes worked as an officer for the Chino police force for a decade. His wife is a police officer in Bell Gardens, Luna said.

Cervantes has been a motorcycle officer for a year, Luna said. The police department allows officers to drive their motorcycles to and from home between shifts.