Templeton CHP officer injured in collision
William Archibald, of Atascadero, sustained broken clavicle, other injuries
–William Archibald, a 46-year-old California Highway Patrol officer based in the Templeton office, was majorly injured in a car accident that occurred Thursday on Highway 1, approximately 1.1 mile south of Hearst Castle Road, according to CHP.
Archibald, who lives in Atascadero, was driving a Ford police utility vehicle northbound Thursday at 6:09 p.m. Goleta resident Marcos Ortega, 36, was driving a Toyota approximately 10 car lengths behind Archibald.
Archibald reportedly observed a red sedan that was traveling southbound on State Route I, approaching the vehicle at a high rate of speed. He slowed down and moved towards the right shoulder to prepare to make a U-turn directly behind the red sedan in order to make a traffic stop on the sedan for speeding. As he prepared to make his U-turn, he looked over his left shoulder, but did not see any traffic approaching. He initiated his u-Turn directly in front of Ortega, and then the front of Ortega’s Toyota collided with the left side of Archibald’s Ford, according to CHP. The Ford came to rest on its wheels, facing in a westerly direction. The Toyota came to rest on its wheels, facing in a northerly direction.
Archibald sustained a broken clavicle, along with other minor injuries, and was transported to Twin Cities Hospital. Ortega complained of pain to his left shoulder area.
This collision is currently under investigation.
