By Mark Glover
The Sacramento Bee
SACRAMENTO — The condition of a California Highway Patrol motorcycle officer who was critically injured last month when investigators said a motorist intentionally backed into him with a stolen truck has been upgraded from serious to good.
The CHP on Tuesday issued a notice on Officer Michael Ericson’s upgraded physical status.
Ericson, 47, a 17-year veteran of the CHP, was run over about 1 p.m. April 7 in the median of Interstate 80 near Madison Avenue in the Foothill Farms area. CHP officials contend that 28-year-old Austin Barry Scott intentionally backed the truck into the officer. Ericson was taken by helicopter to UC Davis Medical Center in critical condition.
Investigators said Scott’s truck was reported stolen in Reno. Authorities say that after striking Ericson, Scott drove west on I-80.
He abandoned the truck in a construction zone on I-80 near Northgate Boulevard, authorities say, and stole a pickup truck belonging to a California Department of Transportation contractor. He then led authorities on a pursuit on I-80 into Solano County and was captured near Fairfield.
Scott, who faces attempted murder charges in the incident, remains in the Sacramento County jail without bail.
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