CRASH INJURES LAPD OFFICER DECORATED VETERAN HIT WHILE AIDING OTHERS.

Byline: Heather MacDonald and Dana Bartholomew Staff Writers

NEWHALL - A highly decorated Los Angeles SWAT officer was one of seven people injured in a series of crashes on the Antelope Valley Freeway, officials said Sunday.

Officer Bruce Hunt, 40, a 14-year Los Angeles Police Department veteran and recipient of its prestigious Medal of Valor, was on his way home Saturday night when he stopped to help the victims of an 11:30 p.m. crash.

A car hit Hunt on the northbound side of the freeway near San Fernando Road as he helped two people hurt in the first crash, authorities said.

``Somebody ran into the accident scene with their vehicle, and the officer was pinned against a car,'' said Jack Richter, a spokesman for the LAPD. ``It's very serious.''

Hunt suffered serious injuries to his legs and pelvic area and was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills for treatment, officials said.

``The fact that he was at that accident site surprises no one,'' Richter said. ``He is the type of person to be at an accident scene helping people, even if he is off-duty. He's a model police officer.''

Police from Hunt's Metropolitan Division prayed for his recovery Sunday during a round-the-clock vigil at his home and hospital room.

``Here at Metro we take care of our own,'' said Sgt. J. Rodriguez. ``There was a strong showing at the hospital by LAPD officers as soon as they found out what happened, making sure his family was well-taken care of.''

Seven cars were involved in the Saturday night crashes, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Timothy Losee, 43, of Redondo Beach was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after being treated for minor injuries, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The Highway Patrol said the chain of events apparently started when Losee lost control of his 1993 Lincoln and hit the concrete center divider.

The windshield of the Lincoln flew into the southbound lanes and hit a van, according to a CHP report.

Hunt parked his patrol car on the right shoulder, then ran into the traffic lanes to aid Losee and his passenger, a 46-year-old Redondo Beach woman, who suffered moderate injuries in the crash, according to the CHP.

Then a 1992 Isuzu Trooper, driven by a 34-year-old Tehachapi man, failed to stop in time to avoid the previous collision, authorities said.

Hunt was critically injured when the Isuzu struck several vehicles, setting off a chain reaction of crashes, the Highway Patrol reported.

The crashes shut down the freeway, which was not reopened until late Sunday morning, officials said.

Hunt, a dedicated SWAT officer highly sought as a partner by fellow officers, in 1999 won the LAPD's Medal of Valor - its highest award - for his courage in attempting to rescue a wounded Glendale police detective.

On May 27, 1997, a sniper in a Chatsworth pornography warehouse suspected of killing his live-in girlfriend ambushed two Glendale detectives, injuring one, according to police.

Two Los Angeles police officers trying to save the detective were also shot in an ensuing eight-hour standoff.

During a diversionary explosion, Hunt and his SWAT team braved the sniper's ``kill zone'' to reach the downed detective, who unknown to them had died of his wounds. Hunt fired at the sniper, enabling the rescue unit to complete its mission. The sniper eventually shot himself.