REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — A man who was knocked unconscious during a fight in the parking lot of a Redwood City restaurant was then accidentally run over by a police officer responding to the call, authorities said Wednesday.
Francisco Huerta, 32, of Menlo Park was struck outside the Denny's restaurant at 1201 Broadway shortly after 2:30 a.m. Monday, police Capt. Ron Matuszak said.
The attacker fled, and police were summoned to the scene as Huerta was lying on the ground, Matuszak said.
An officer drove his police cruiser into the parking lot and saw a group of people crowded near the front entrance. He didn't realize that Huerta was lying on the ground in the driveway and ran over him, Matuszak said.
"I imagine he was focused on the crowd," Matuszak said.
Huerta was in critical condition at Stanford Hospital.
The incident is being investigated by police and the California Highway Patrol. The officer, whose name wasn't released, has been put on administrative leave.