2 California cops struck by suspected DUI driver while trying to help motorist who killed bear

Two Northern California police officers struck by a suspected drunken driver early Sunday moments after arriving to help a motorist who hit a bear are recovering from their injuries.

The back-to-back crashes happened along Highway 49 in Nevada City, about 55 miles northeast of Sacramento.

California Highway Patrol officers arrested Geoffrey Rodgers, 28, at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence, officials said. Rodgers was taken to Nevada County jail but was no longer in custody Monday, according to jail records.

The officers had been called to the Highway 49 on-ramp near Broad Street about 12:30 a.m. Sunday. A bear struck and killed by a motorist was partially blocking the ramp. The motorist was not hurt and stayed at the scene but the car was heavily damaged and still on the roadway, Nevada City police said in a statement posted to YubaNet.com.

Police Chief Dan Foss described the scene to KCRA as chaotic : “We knew it was vehicle versus pedestrian, and the pedestrian was my officers.”

“It was a DUI driver, driving under the influence. He blew through the flares, drove right through them,” Foss told KCRA. “He was well over the legal limit, and he struck both our officers.”

The officers were setting up road flares near the ramp when another motorist drove into the pair. Nevada City police say one of the officers was able to call for help. Both officers were rushed — one by helicopter, the other by ambulance — to Sutter Roseville Medical Center, but were later released, according to CBS Sacramento.

According to KCRA, there are just 13 officers on the force, including Foss. He told the TV station that nearby agencies had reached out, offering to help the department as the officers recover.