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Elk Grove police officer killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 99 identified as Tyler Lenehan | Update

Southbound Hwy. 99 lanes reopened around noon after being closed all morning. CHP - South Sacramento arrested the driver on DUI-related charges.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Update

The Elk Grove Police Department [EGPD] held a press conference at 3:30 p.m. Friday to announce the identity of the officer killed in the wrong-way driver crash as Tyler Lenehan. 

Lenehan was a six-year veteran of the EGPD.

The officer's death is considered to be a line-of-duty death as officer Lenehan was in full uniform and on his way to work on his EGPD motorcycle. 

This is the first time EGPD has suffered a line-of-duty death.

According to EGPD Chief Timothy Albright, Lenahan was a husband, a father to his two children, a son, a friend, a proud U.S. Air Force veteran and a family member to those at the department.

"We are deeply saddened and grieve for our law enforcement family, the family of our officer, and for our community," Albright said. "The call of our own officer down was a tug at everyone's heart."

CHP - South Sacramento identified the wrong-way driver as 31-year-old Jermaine J. Walton, of Sacramento. In a Facebook post, CHP allege Walton initially tried to walk away from the scene of the accident before being detained by officers. 

"While on scene, Walton displayed objective signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication," CHP's Facebook post says. "A DUI investigation was performed and Walton was placed under arrest for suspicion of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage at the time of the crash. Walton was subsequently booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail for several felony DUI-related charges."

Elk Grove Police Department mourns the loss of veteran motor officer, Ty Lenehan. For full press release : https://bit.ly/33X74rQ

Posted by Elk Grove Police Department on Friday, January 21, 2022

HWY-99 WRONG-WAY DRIVER COLLISION UPDATE On January 21, 2022, at approximately 5:13 am, the Sacramento CHP Dispatch...

Posted by CHP - South Sacramento on Friday, January 21, 2022

Below is video from a press conference earlier Friday held by EGPD.

Southbound Hwy. 99 lanes reopened around noon after being closed all morning

Original Story

A portion of southbound Highway 99 near 12th Avenue is temporarily shut down due to a crash.

The crash happened just after 5 a.m. Friday. The California Highway Patrol [CHP] reported receiving a call about a crash involving an Elk Grove motorcycle officer.

CHP said the other car, a dark colored Dodge, involved was potentially a wrong way driver. The driver of the Dodge reported no significant injuries. 

The officer is reported to have major injuries. 

There is currently no timetable for reopening. Multiple ramps in the area are closed due to the shutdown, including: Business 80 ramp near N Street and the US-50 east ramp closed to south Hwy. 99. A second accident was reported in the backup, but details are limited on that accident.

READ MORE FROM ABC10: 

Watch More: Elk Grove Police provide update on officer hit by wrong-way driver

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