C.H.P. OFFICER STRUCK AND IN SERIOUS CONDITION

A California Highway Patrol officer was in serious condition Saturday at a Ventura hospital after he was allegedly struck by a Paso Robles man driving under the influence earlier in the week.CHP motorcycle officer Anthony Pedeferri was recovering at Ventura County Medical Center, according to hospital

He was hit Wednesday around 4:30 p.m. on the shoulder of the northbound lanes of Highway 101 in Ventura County, according to CHP officials. Pedeferri was thrown from the shoulder of the highway where he had been standing beside a sport utility vehicle that he had pulled over, CHP officials said.

Jeremy James White, 20, of Paso Robles, was driving a pickup that drifted onto the shoulder and struck the SUV, propelling Pedeferri onto an embankment, the CHP said. The driver of the SUV, Andreas Parra, 20, of Phoenix, died at the scene after the SUV burst into flames, CHP officials said.

On Saturday, White was being held at Ventura County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail on suspicion of felony DUI causing injury, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and sale or transportation of marijuana, according to the jail Web site.