Motorcycle officer hit in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A Santa Barbara police officer was struck by a vehicle while on his police motorcycle Thursday afternoon.

The officer was taken by ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. He was treated for moderate injuries and released hours later.

It happened around 12:50 p.m. at the intersection of Alamar Avenue and Foothill Road.

The driver of a white sedan made a left turn directly in front of the motorcycle officer who was traveling 30-35 mph down Foothill Road. The officer was ejected over the sedan, landing on the pavement next to the driver's side door.

The driver of the sedan told officers she thought she had enough time to make the left turn in front of the officer. The woman in her 20's was driving with a learner's permit while being observed by an adult male in the passenger seat. They were not injured.