RSO sergeant injured in Thousand Palms crash released from hospital

A Riverside County Sheriff's Sergeant who was injured in a crash in Thousand Palms last week has been discharged from the hospital, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department's Media Information Bureau.

The vehicle crashed while en route to a call of a reported bank robbery in at around 10:50 a.m. on December 5. The call was later confirmed as being unfounded.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the investigating agency on the incident, the sergeant suffered major injuries in the crash.

By December 6, RSO confirmed that the sergeant was in stable condition.

Witnesses on the scene say the RSO SUV was traveling northbound on Monterey Avenue with patrol lights on as it passed through the intersection when it was t-boned by a 2006 Chevy Cobalt.

"The police was on the right side, turned on his lights, turned on his sirens and went through the intersection and the car came the other way and nailed him, t-boned him," witness Eric Thompson said.

Thompson was waiting to make a left on Varner Road when it happened.

"The air bag was deployed on both sides. [...] I opened his door, the driver door and he was laying across the seat towards the passenger side and I asked him if he’s okay and he said, ‘I got help coming,'" Thompson said.

According to CHP, a 23-year-old man was driving the Chevy Cobalt with a 17-year-old girl and a baby inside.

"The guy came out, the driver and I saw him come holding his head. Pulled out a phone, and started making a phone call I guess," witness Lu Thompson said.

The CHP says the 17-year-old reported feeling pain and was taken to Eisenhower Medical Center.

Officials say alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor. The incident is under investigation.