CHP Officer Comatose After Crash : Accident: Veteran assigned to West Valley is hooked to life supports after collision on freeway involving suspected drunk driver.

MISSION HILLS — With worried eyes hidden behind their trademark dark sunglasses, a string of California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers kept pulling up outside the emergency room doors at Holy Cross Medical Center on Wednesday afternoon.

Inside, fellow officer and friend Bruce Thomas Hinman, 30, lay in a coma, hooked to life-support machines after a suspected drunk driver rammed into a stalled car that Hinman had been assisting along a freeway interchange Tuesday night. The crash pushed the parked car into and over Hinman, its left rear tire coming to a stop on his chest and pinning him to the ground.

Hinman’s colleagues, his wife and the couple’s twin 5-year-old sons anxiously awaited word Wednesday of any change in his condition. They spoke of Hinman’s dedication to his job.

“He’s a good young officer, just doing his job by stopping to help someone,” said Edward W. Gomez, CHP Southern California chief. “With all the talk of planting evidence and officers on the take, this shows the level of service that we should be about.”

Gomez said the fact Hinman was wearing his helmet probably saved his life. Hinman, a West Valley CHP officer for eight years, choked for nearly 20 minutes because his chin strap was pulled tight, Gomez said.

The suspected drunk driver, Ramiro Rodriguez, 42, who received moderate injuries in the accident, was arrested and booked on suspicion of felony drunk driving. Gomez said Rodriguez’s blood-alcohol level was 0.24%, three times the legal limit.

West Valley CHP spokesman Dwight McDonald said Hinman pulled over about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday to help the driver of the disabled car near the junction of the U.S. 101 and California 170 freeways. Hinman was standing near the front of the disabled car while Rodriguez, of San Fernando, was driving north on the 101 Freeway.

Officers said Rodriguez apparently missed his turnoff and tried to cross over to the 170 Freeway transition at the last minute. He smashed into the right rear of the disabled car and then spun out of control.

The disabled car’s passengers, Erlinda Alvarez, 18, and Aristotle Alvarez, 19, were still inside when their car ran over Hinman.

Both passengers were taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where they were treated for minor injuries.

Rodriguez had to be extricated from his car. He was also taken to Northridge Hospital, where he was treated and released.

At Holy Cross Medical Center on Wednesday afternoon, CHP Commissioner Maury Flannigan flew in from Sacramento, touching down in a helicopter in the hospital’s parking lot.

Flannigan visited with Hinman’s family in the hospital and questioned doctors on the officer’s condition.

Flannigan, commenting on the accident, said, “It’s very unfortunate and happens all too often.”

Times staff writer Sharon Bernstein contributed to this story.

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Point of Impact

An alleged drunk driver’s mental error on the U.S. Freeway results in an accident that pins a California Highway Patrol officer under a tire of a vehicle he had stopped to help. Here is how it happened:

1. Ramiro Rodriques, in his late- model sedan, travels northbound on the U.S. 101 Freeway. Rodriguez misses the California 170 Freeway transition.

2. He crosses over a lane and cuts across the intersection of U.S. 101 and California 170 freeways.

3. His car strikes the right rear side of the stalled vehicle pushing the car into and over CHP officer Bruce Thomas Hinman.

4. Officer Hinman is pinned under the right rear tire of the stalled vehicle.

5. Rodriguez’ car spins out of control and stops behind the stalled vehcile. A rescue team has to pull him out of his car.

Source: Times staff