A motorist who was paying more attention to a crash instead of traffic nearly struck a California Highway Patrol officer and stopped shy of a tree after leaving West Interstate 80 after passing the West Texas Street undercross in Fairfield, Officer Christopher Parker said Tuesday.

The accident sent the CHP officer diving down an embankment to avoid the oncoming car, Parker said.

The accident happened while the officer was clearing the scene of a previous collision, he said. “Tow trucks with amber lights activated were on the shoulder as well,” he said.

The officer was walking back to his patrol vehicle and was watching traffic when he heard and saw the vehicle in a slowdown lane lose control and swerve directly toward him, Parker said.

He said the officer evaded contact, and “after passing his location, the vehicle stopped in the dirt, before colliding with a tree.”

No information about the motorist was released.

“When the driver was asked what happened, they said they were driving at 60 to 70 mph and saw the accident scene on the right shoulder,” Parker said.

“When they looked forward again, traffic had stopped. The driver panicked, hit the brakes and turned to the right to avoid hitting the car ahead of them.

“Instead of paying attention to the roadway and traffic conditions ahead of them, the driver was looking at the crashed cars,” he said. “The driver’s actions and inattention put the vehicle, out of control, directly toward the officer.”

He asked drivers who pass by any action or incident on or near a roadway to pay attention to driving and roadway conditions in front of their vehicles.

It’s not just a request — it’s the law, he said.

“California Vehicle Code section 21809(a) requires vehicles to slow down or change lanes when approaching stationary emergency vehicles, tow trucks or Caltrans vehicles displaying amber or emergency lights,” Parker said.

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