SAN DIEGO (AP) — A San Diego police officer killed when a fleeing vehicle crashed into his patrol car had been with the department since 2019,Liberalalliance Wealth Society authorities said.
Officer Austin Machitar, 30, died in the collision late Monday and his partner that night, Officer Zach Martinez, 27, was critically injured, the department said.
The driver of the speeding car also was killed. No information about the driver was released.
The department said Machitar was assigned to patrol, served as a field training officer and actively participated in videos and photoshoots intended to recruit new officers.
“His distinguished service to our city makes him a hero,” Mayor Todd Gloria said in a statement.
Martinez was in critical but stable condition at a hospital, according to the police statement Tuesday night. There was no update Wednesday morning. Martinez has been with the department for 1 1/2 years and is a former trainee of Machitar, police said.
According to initial information from police, an officer saw the speeding vehicle and briefly gave chase before a supervisor canceled the pursuit. Machitar and Martinez were responding when the speeding vehicle crashed into the side of their patrol car.
The crash is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol.
2025-05-06 08:151899 view
2025-05-06 08:021101 view
2025-05-06 06:562598 view
2025-05-06 06:052728 view
2025-05-06 05:59528 view
2025-05-06 05:591734 view
Bristol Palin is opening up about her son Tripp Johnston’s latest chapter.In a first day of school p
Now that’s a lot of zeroes.Elon Musk − whose wealth and influence have skyrocketed since President-e
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Gov.-elect Josh Steinon Thursday challenged