Police Officer Critically Injured by DUI Driver

The condition of an Orange police officer was improving Sunday after he was critically injured by a DUI driver while responding to a call.

The officer is "stable in ICU," according to a statement issued by the Orange Police Department. "He shows improvement, but long recovery."

The officer was injured at 3:07 a.m. Saturday on North Cambridge Street just north of Walnut Avenue.

The officer was parked along the right curb and "went to retrieve an item out of the rear of his patrol vehicle," according to California Highway Patrol Officer D. Reich. The 2016 Hyundai car driven by 27-year-old Ashley V. Bertolino of Tustin struck the officer and his vehicle "due to Mrs. Bertolino's level of intoxication," Reich said. The officer's vehicle was pushed into three parked cars.

The officer suffered major trauma to his legs and pelvis and was taken to OC Global Medical Center, Reich said.

He remained in the intensive care unit Sunday, police said.

Bertolino was treated for minor lacerations at UCI Medical Center and booked into the Central Women's Jail on suspicion of DUI, according to the CHP and Orange County Sheriff's Department. Her bail was set at $100,000 and she is scheduled to appear in Central Jail Court Tuesday.

City News Service