CRASH: Investigators study the scene of a wreck Thursday, April 3 that left police officer Stephen Schluer with leg and back injuries. Schluer is okay, doctors say, partly because he was wearing a bulletproof vest.

MANTECA — Police officer Stephen Schluer is home recovering after a motorcycle crash the morning of Thursday, April 3 that left him with leg and back injuries.

Schluer was riding his motorcycle eastbound on Louise Avenue near Springtime Avenue at 7:20 a.m. Thursday when Margaret Kibler, 48, of Manteca, hit him from behind with her Buick.

Police spokesman Rex Osborn said Schluer called the police as he lay injured on the ground.

"He got out (the words) 'Louise and Springtime' and that was the last we heard from him," Osborn said.

Schluer was transported to San Joaquin County General Hospital in French Camp, where he was found to have no broken bones and was treated for his injuries.    

Doctors said the bulletproof vest he was wearing absorbed the impact of the crash and likely saved him from internal injuries, Osborn said.

The sun's glare likely contributed to the accident, Osborn said. No fault had been determined as of press time.
Schluer was involved with a single-vehicle accident about two months ago, also on Louise Avenue, Osborn said.
In that accident, he went to complete a U-turn and lost control of the bike.