Bicyclist fatally struck by APD officer – Sgt injured by second vehicle

October 12, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

ANDERSON, Calif. — A fatal accident involving an Anderson police officer and a bicyclist was followed by a second, major-injury collision involving a car that smashed into a second patrol vehicle, injuring a sergeant who was trying to re-direct traffic away from the scene of the initial fatal accident.

The two accidents happened on Highway 273 just south of Thomas Rd., Sunday evening, Oct. 11.

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According to Anderson Police Department, a City of Anderson police officer was driving a patrol vehicle northbound Highway 273 just south of Thomas Rd. in the number 1 (fast lane) around 9 p.m., when the officer’s vehicle struck a bicyclist who was also traveling northbound within the fast lane of Highway 273.

The initial collision occurred along a darkened portion of the highway that is not lit by streetlamps, Anderson PD later explained in a social media release.

Roman Madrid, who witnessed the aftermath of Sunday’s collisions later described the “devastating scene” saying the police vehicle “was smashed in …and… half the hood (of the Corolla (that struck the sergeant’s vehicle) was just mangled. It wasn’t pretty… it wasn’t pretty at all,” said Madrid. Roman Madrid/KRCR News Channel 7 photo

The officer involved in the collision, who was not injured in the accident, immediately began lifesaving efforts on the critically injured bicyclist as additional officers and paramedics responded to the scene.

“While lifesaving efforts were being conducted, an Anderson Police Department sergeant was tasked with re-directing northbound traffic on Highway 273 to ensure safety of the first responders,” APD explained in their release.

While life-saving efforts on the injured bicyclist continued, the sergeant had parked his patrol unit south of the traffic collision with all his emergency lights activated and was outside the patrol unit directing traffic.

“A citizen driving a sedan, traveling northbound Highway 273, failed to slow for the sergeant and his patrol vehicle …(and)… collided with the sergeant’s patrol vehicle, causing major damage to both vehicles,” APD has since explained.

Although the sergeant was able to jump out of the way of the “quickly approaching sedan” he sustained injuries as a result of the second collision.

Both the sergeant and the citizen of the vehicle that struck the sergeant’s vehicle were transported to a local hospital by paramedics.

The driver who smashed into the sergeant’s patrol vehicle was later listed in critical condition and remains hospitalized in Intensive Care with major injuries.

The sergeant sustained moderate injuries while trying to avoid being struck and has since been released from the hospital.

Although extensive lifesaving efforts were conducted on the bicyclist, the victim passed away and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The deceased bicyclist’s name has not yet been released, pending further investigation and notification of the victim’s family.

Redding resident Roman Madrid later told KRCR News Channel 7 he witnessed the aftermath of the crash, calling it a “devastating scene”.

“It was a little bit after 9 when we were leaving Anderson and we’d seen quite a few fire trucks and police vehicles, first responders going north on 273,” Madrid described to KRCR.

“The scene was devastating, Madrid continued; adding, “The front of the police vehicle was smashed in and the Corolla, half the hood was just mangled. It wasn’t pretty… it wasn’t pretty at all.”

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Based on the circumstances, California Highway Patrol responded to the scene to conduct separate traffic collision investigations into the two collisions.

Due to the collisions causing a temporary depletion of Anderson Police Department resources, Redding police officers and Shasta County sheriff’s deputies responded and assisted Anderson PD throughout the ordeal.

CHP’s investigation into the two collisions is ongoing.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.

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Contact the editor: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.