CHP Officer Dies After Being Hit On Side Of I-15 Near Elsinore

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — The southbound side of Interstate 15 in the Lake Elsinore area was completely closed to traffic on Saturday evening after a California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer was hit by a car on the freeway. The officer has since died as a result of his injuries, officials tell Patch.

The crash was reported at 4:26 p.m. on the southbound side of the freeway just north of Nichols Road, according to a CHP traffic incident log.

Initial reports indicate that the driver of a black sedan was possibly driving on the right hand shoulder and struck the officer, who was on the side of the roadway.

An air ambulance was called to land on the freeway to transport the officer to a hospital, the CHP said.

At the hospital, CHP Sgt. Steve Licon died, according to officials.

The crash prompted authorities to shut down all southbound lanes for several hours, causing a seven-mile traffic jam, with some drivers reportedly using the shoulder to escape the congestion. As of 6:20 p.m., Caltrans said the the freeway was closed between Indian Truck Trail and Nichols Road due to the police investigation.

"Avoid the area if possible," Caltrans said in a Tweet. "Traffic is being diverted off Indian Truck trail. Unknown duration. Police Investigation."

The CHP said motorists were being diverted off the freeway via the Lake Street exit. The roadway didn't reopen until early Sunday morning.