On Sunday, October 4th, 2020, shortly before 8:50 pm, a Turlock Police Officer radioed in to dispatch reporting that he was broadsided at the intersection of Geer Rd and W Hawkeye Ave. Other officers with the Turlock Police Department responded, alongside American Medical Response and the Turlock Fire Department with Battalion 4, Squad 32, and Engine 33.

Other officers, firefighters, and paramedics arrived on scene within a few minutes. It was determined that there were only two patients, the officer and the driver of the other vehicle, so Squad 32 was cancelled. The involved officer, Officer Henry Hernandez, was transported by American Medical Response to a local hospital. The driver of the other vehicle originally refused transport, however, later requested an ambulance to respond again to transport him. Both vehicles sustained minor to moderate damage, and there was no airbag deployment.

Due to a conflict of interest with the Turlock Police Department taking their own report, the Modesto Office of the California Highway Patrol responded to handle the investigation. The investigation is still in its preliminary stages, however, it has so far been determined that the officer was travelling eastbound on W Hawkeye Ave, preparing to make a right turn to go southbound on Geer Rd with a green light. At this time, the driver of the other vehicle, who has been identified as Donald Sloan, 31, of Turlock, was travelling southbound on Geer Rd approaching W Hawkeye Ave. Sloan then failed to yield to the red light, entered the intersection, and broadsided the officer’s vehicle. The California Highway Patrol was able to obtain video clearly showing this.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Modesto office of the California Highway Patrol at 209-545-7440.