This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
A CHP officer had to jump into action and smash open the window of a moving car in the middle of the freeway in order to rescue a passed out driver.
Amber Morgan was out cold behind the wheel on the 805 freeway in San Diego just before 1 a.m. Friday morning. An ABC 10 News cameraman discovered her at the scene and called 911, and even went out to her car in a futile attempt to wake her up by knocking on the driver's side window.
"I tried knocking—she's totally passed out. Her doors are locked on the driver's side," the cameraman says to the CHP officer who shows up.
Officer Sergio Flores unsuccessfully tries to knock out the driver's window with his flashlight, and the car starts rolling slowly. Flores runs to the other side of the car and on the second swing of his baton is able to smash the passenger window but Morgan's car keeps slowly rolling. "Stop the car! You are going to crash!" Flores yells. In an apparent daze, Morgan is able to stop the car and Officer Flores reaches in and shifts the car into park.
Morgan was safely taken out of the car and moved to the shoulder, where she was then handcuffed and checked on by firefighters. A large bottle of liquor was found in her car, and she was taken into custody on suspicion of a DUI. The officer suffered cuts to his hands from smashing the window.
