CHP: Man shot dead by officer attacked with large knife

A Humboldt County CHP officer who shot and killed a driver early Thursday was attacked by a machete-style knife while investigating a traffic crash, officials said Friday.

The officer was responding to the crash at 1:35 a.m. Thursday on Highway 299 in Humboldt County near Willow Creek when the driver of a vehicle “violently attacked” the officer with the knife, the CHP said.

CHP officials said the officer feared for his life, and fired at the driver, who died at the scene.

The officer, who suffered major injuries, was transported to a nearby hospital. He was listed in stable condition Friday.

The CHP did not release the names of either the officer or the driver. The driver, who was initially identified only as a white male, was a 17-year-old boy from nearby Hoopa, the CHP said.

Police said there are no other suspects in the incident.

You can reach Staff Writer Angela Hart at 526-8503 or angela.hart@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ahartreports.