BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS Injured officer recovering...

BRIEFLY IN

THE NEWS

Injured officer recovering

A Costa Mesa motorcycle officer and another man injured in a fiery

crash on the San Diego Freeway Monday night continued to recover in a

local hospital, officials said Wednesday.

Motor Officer Dennis Dickens was hit from behind by 33-year-old

Javier Gasga of Mission Viejo. Dickens suffered a cracked pelvis and

several cuts on his body and underwent a skin graft Tuesday

afternoon, officials said. Gasga, arrested for drunken driving,

suffered a collapsed lung and remained hospitalized. Both were being

treated at Mission Hospital.

Dickens’ partner, Officer Tony Yannizzi, who was riding

side-by-side with Dickens at the time, pulled both men to safety.

Yannizzi was not injured. Both Yannizzi and Dickens have been

recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for arresting the most

drunken drivers. They have arrested more than 1,000 drunken drivers

over the years, officials said.