2 Irvine officers hurt when a car hits their parked police cruiser

Two Irvine police officers were hospitalized after a sedan crashed into their parked patrol car Tuesday night, authorities said.

The officers had their cruiser’s emergency lights on and were blocking the No. 3 lane of Culver Drive when a Toyota Camry rear-ended them at about 8:45 p.m. just east of Warner Avenue, according the California Highway Patrol, which is investigating the crash.

Irvine police said the officers had recently finished clearing a traffic collision in the area and were sitting in their car when it was struck.

Both were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, including knee and back pain, according to the CHP.

“Thankful that their injuries are not life-threatening,” Irvine police said on Twitter shortly after the incident.

The Camry’s driver, a 20-year-old Irvine resident, stayed at the scene and also was taken to a hospital with a minor injury, according to the CHP.

Investigators do not suspect that alcohol or drugs played a part in the crash, the CHP said.

Irvine police said Wednesday morning that one of the officers had been released from the hospital and the other was still there for observation.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck