Placer sheriff’s deputy in coma after striking head during training

A Placer County sheriff’s deputy is in a medically induced coma after striking his head on a beam during a training exercise.

Deputy Austin Harper was on duty helping with police dog training Wednesday when his head struck a steel support beam in a vacant commercial building, according to a post on the sheriff’s Facebook site.

He was knocked unconscious, then taken to a hospital where he underwent surgery to lessen brain swelling. According to the Monday post on Facebook, Harper, who was placed in a medically induced coma, was in critical but stable condition.

Harper has been with the Sheriff’s Office since December. He previously was a police officer in Truckee.

Harper is a veteran of the Marine Corps. Harper’s wife, also a police officer, is pregnant with the couple’s first child.

The road to recovery for Harper will be long and costly. A support fund has been established at the California Association of Highway Patrol credit union. Go to https://cahpcu.org/donation-to-deputy-austin-harper/ for more information.

This story was originally published August 2, 2016 at 9:09 AM.