A CHP motorcycle officer was struck by a Tesla on Interstate 280 today (Sept. 8), resulting in multiple lane closures on southbound 280 near Page Mill Road in Palo Alto, CHP said.
The officer was dispatched to clear an electric leaf blower that was between the two left lanes of southbound 280, according to Officer Jovita Ojeda. The officer was performing a traffic break by swerving in the lane to slow other motorists down so he could retrieve the leaf blower when a 2026 Tesla Model Y crashed into him, Ojeda said.
The officer was ejected from his motorcycle, he was taken to the hospital and is suffering from major, but non-life-threatening injuries, Ojeda said.
The Tesla driver stayed on scene to cooperate with investigators. CHP is determining if the Tesla had autopilot on at the time of the collision.
As a result of the crash, the three left lanes of the interstate have been closed.