Sheriff’s recruit in grave condition; one of 25 trainees hit by car in South Whittier
Thursday, April 18th, 2011
The Whittier County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death of a recruit who was hit by a vehicle Wednesday in the City of Whittier.According to Whittier detectives, the deputy was riding in a patrol car when another vehicle crossed the median and struck the recruiter in the head.The other driver, a woman in her 20s, was taken to Riverside Adventist Medical Center in serious condition. She was listed in good condition Friday.Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore issued the following statement Friday afternoon:“There was a traffic incident in Whittier County on Wednesday evening involving a deputy and a civilian. The two vehicles crossed the median and struck the deputy. While the two vehicles were moving, the deputy engaged in a pursuit and the cars collided with the deputy. When a deputy is involved in a serious traffic accident, that officer is not typically identified immediately. The Whittier County Sheriff’s Department is not going to release the name of the deputy at this time. The deputy involved in this accident is currently in a local hospital being treated for injuries. As soon as the deputy has undergone surgery, they will notify Whittier County Sheriff’s Department of the deputy’s condition.”The department says the recruit suffered several small bruises on his head.According to a Whittier Police Department alert:“At 10:45 PM today (April 16), patrol car A was stopped on Highway 92 and the passenger in the passenger side of the vehicle, identified as C, was detained for allegedly possessing a firearm. It is alleged by C that he possessed said firearm and his vehicle with him.“At 10:54 PM the vehicle left the scene and was pulled over by patrol car B on Highway 92. Patrol car B observed C exit the vehicle through the passenger side window and exit the vehicle. C did