SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – A San Diego Police officer was killed and another sustained major injuries in a fiery, multi-vehicle crash in Clairemont Mesa late Monday night, SDPD Chief Scott Wahl said Tuesday.
SDPD Chief Scott Wahl says Austin Machitar was the officer who died at the scene. Zach Martinez, Machitar's partner, was still in critical condition at Sharp Memorial Hospital as of Tuesday evening.
SDPD officials said the crash involving a police patrol vehicle and three other cars happened at around 11:30 p.m. at the intersection of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Doliva Drive.
In a Tuesday morning press conference, Wahl said officers tried to initiate a traffic stop on a speeding BMW, but the driver refused to pull over and continued to speed away, prompting a pursuit.
Wahl said two officers in an SDPD vehicle were responding to the incident when the fleeing driver collided with their vehicle at the intersection.
Wahl confirmed the officer driving the patrol vehicle died at the scene. The driver suspected of leading the pursuit was also killed, Wahl stated.
The other officer was transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital for emergency treatment. According to Wahl, the surviving officer was critically injured and is in intensive care.
CHIEF WAHL PRESS CONFERENCE:
Two other drivers involved in the wreck were OK, police said.
“I can't… put into words the feelings that come at a time like this. When we have police officers coming to work to make a difference to help those in need, and they're putting their lives on the line for people we don't even know… last night, we lost a good one,” an emotional Wahl told the media.
Wahl requested the California Highway Patrol conduct an investigation and full reconstruction of the incident. The person behind the wheel of the BMW was believed to be a teen boy.
Due to the crash, the intersection was shut down; Clairemont Mesa Boulevard was closed from Interstate 805 to Limerick Avenue until around 2:30 p.m.
Caltrans said the northbound and southbound off-ramps to westbound Clairemont Mesa Boulevard were also closed during the crash investigation but have since reopened.
Just before 6 a.m., numerous SDPD officers and department vehicles gathered at the scene for a procession.
OFFICERS CONVERGE FOR PROCESSION:
One of the witnesses to the crash ABC 10News spoke to shared a video with us of the immediate aftermath; you can see multiple cars on fire and a large plume of smoke in the air.
10News also spoke to a woman who heard the crash last night and came back in the morning to drop off a sign for the officers on scene.
"That this happened here... I was heartbroken, and I came back and made a sign to show them how much I appreciate what they do for us," she said. "Everybody gets made at stuff, but the reality is we have to stick together. All of us."
County Supervisor Jim Desmond issued a statement on social media Tuesday saying, "Horrific news this morning as we mourn the loss of one of our dedicated officers. Every day, these brave men and women put their lives on the line to keep our community safe. We must never take their service or their sacrifices for granted. My thoughts are with the officer's family, friends, and all who knew them during this difficult time. May they find peace and strength in the days ahead."
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department issued a statement saying, "On behalf of Sheriff Kelly A. Martinez and the Sheriff's Office, our condolences go out to our brothers and sisters at SDPD over the death of one of their officers in the line of duty. We are also praying for the recovery of a second officer who was critically injured in the incident. We are here for you, SDPD."
The San Diego Police Officers Association has created a Fund a Hero donation page, and the money raised will go directly to the families of the fallen and critically injured officers.
City News Service contributed to this report
