CRASH INJURES CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER DURING STOP

A California Highway Patrol officer was injured when a car struck a vehicle he had pulled over on Highway 99 near Laguna Boulevard on Wednesday, authorities said. Officer Matthew Ramirez, 30, a five-year veteran of the department, was airlifted to UC Davis Medical Center with "minor to moderate" injuries following the 3:14 p.m. crash, CHP Officer Michael Bradley said.

Police closed the northbound lanes of the freeway at Elk Grove Boulevard until about 5:30 p.m. while they investigated the crash, Bradley said. Ramirez had pulled over a Buick about 300 feet south of the Laguna Boulevard exit and was talking to the driver through the passenger-side window when a silver Audi struck the Buick, Bradley said. Ramirez, who was struck by the Buick, suffered cuts to his face and bruises, Bradley said.