Suspected O.C. Drunk Driver Hurts 2 Officers

SANTA ANA —  Two California Highway Patrol officers suffered minor injuries Saturday when they were struck by a suspected drunk driver while citing another motorist on the northbound lanes of the Costa Mesa Freeway, officials said.

About 2:15 a.m. near the Warner Avenue underpass, the officers had stopped a driver on suspicion of drunk driving, CHP Officer Mike Lundquist said. As they were arresting and placing that motorist into the patrol car, another driver swerved onto the shoulder and rear-ended the CHP vehicle.

Authorities said the second driver, Michelle Schmidt, 29, of Tustin, also was intoxicated and was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving. CHP officials did not release either the names of the two officers nor that of the first suspected drunk driver.

The officers, who were standing near their car when the collision occurred, sustained minor injuries, including a sprained ankle and knee problems. The first motorist, who was arrested, also suffered minor injuries, and all three were treated at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, Lundquist said. Schmidt was not injured.