Officer involved in crash

Costa Mesa Police are investigating a traffic collision at Fairview and the 405 Freeway Sunday morning that involved a California Highway Patrol officer, authorities said.

Officer Jaime Apodaca was northbound on the 405 Freeway when he saw a disabled vehicle near the center divider on the southbound side. The driver and her small child were reportedly trying to run across the freeway, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Chris Berry said. After the officer’s crash, the woman was assisted by another CHP unit.

Apodaca turned on his lights and sirens and exited the freeway so he could get on the 405 southbound to help the motorist. As he traveled slowly through the intersection of Fairview and the freeway, Fountain Valley resident Deborah Ballard’s car struck the front of the officer’s vehicle at about 9:30 a.m., Costa Mesa police said. Her Volvo E50 then smashed into the turn signal, police said. No one was seriously hurt, Berry said.

Ballard was cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, Costa Mesa police said.