Pickup Driver Falls Asleep And Slams Into Police Cruiser During Traffic Stop

An Irwindale police officer suffered minor cuts to his face after a pickup slammed into the rear of his patrol car during a traffic stop on the southbound 605 Freeway.

Just after 4 a.m. on July 23, 2026, the officer stopped a motorist traveling over 100 mph just south of the 10 Freeway. Both vehicles were on the right shoulder.

The officer had returned to his patrol car to write a citation when a pickup struck the cruiser from behind, pushing it into the stopped vehicle.

The officer suffered minor cuts to his face from flying glass and returned to duty the following night.

The stopped driver reported head and neck pain. The pickup driver was uninjured, showed no signs of impairment and said he had fallen asleep.

The crash happened near the 605/10 interchange in the Baldwin Park and Irwindale area.