SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The San Diego Police Department has identified the officer who died and another who was critically injured when responding to a high-speed pursuit on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard late Monday night.
SDPD Chief Scott Wahl says Austin Machitar was the officer who died at the scene. Zach Martinez, Machitar's former trainee and occasional patrol partner, was in critical, but stable, condition at Sharp Memorial Hospital as of Tuesday evening, Wahl said.
Machitar, 30, had been on the force since 2019, and Martinez, 27, has been an officer for one and a half years.
WATCH: An emotional Chief Wahl identifies the officers during a Tuesday evening press conference from Sharp Memorial Hospital. Listen as he delivers a tribute to Machitar.
"He's a San Diego kid. Austin's the kind of guy you want on your team. He was athletic. He was a competitor. He had a passion for training... Austin had a very infectious smile and a character that made him one of a kind," Chief Wahl said. "I can't imagine what his parents are going through right now. Our focus is going to be helping them grieve and get through this process."
Wahl said his department is hopeful that Martinez will continue to recover.
“We are very optimistic [Martinez] is going to be OK,” an emotional SDPD Chief Scott Wahl said during a press conference. “But he has a very long road to go. The list of injuries are numerous. We ask everybody to keep him in their prayers; the support has been overwhelming.”
The fatal, fiery crash happened around 11:30 p.m. at the intersection of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Doliva Drive, the department says.
Chief Wahl said the chase started when different officers tried to pull over a speeding vehicle, but the driver refused to stop and continued to speed away, initiating the pursuit.
Machitar and Martinez were responding to the chase when the fleeing driver collided into their vehicle at the intersection.
The driver leading the pursuit was also dead at the scene, Wahl said during the press conference. Two other drivers involved in the multi-vehicle wreck were OK, SDPD says.
At Wahl's request, the California Highway Patrol is conducting an investigation and full reconstruction of the crash.
The San Diego Police Officers Association has created a Fund a Hero donation page to support the families of the officers. The money will go directly to the Machitar and Martinez families.
