San Bernardino officer injured when patrol car is hit by DUI suspect’s vehicle

Last Updated on February 8, 2021 by CCAR Staff

A San Bernardino police officer was hurt and later released from the hospital after his patrol car was struck from behind by a man suspected of drinking and driving.

On Saturday, Feb. 6, the officer was patrolling in his marked police vehicle when he stopped at a red signal at the intersection of 5th Street and Cabrera Avenue at about 9:30 p.m. A Toyota Tacoma driver by 41-year-old Abelardo Gurrola of San Bernardino collided into the back of the officer’s vehicle, the San Bernardino Police Department said in a Sunday statement.

Both the officer and Gurrola were injured in the collision and were transported to local hospitals, the Police Department said. The officer, whose name is being withheld, was released from the hospital, but Gurrola remained hospitalized for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries as of Sunday night, police said.

An investigation revealed Gurrola was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. He was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury, the Police Department said.

The collision was under investigation and anyone with additional information was asked to contact Detective Dan Acosta or Sgt. Jeff Harvey at 909-384-5792.