A San Diego police officer and the driver of another vehicle died when the driver crashed into the officer’s car after a chase Monday night, police said.
A second officer who was in the same police vehicle was “fighting for his life” after they were stuck by the speeding car, Police Chief Scott Wahl said at a news conference Tuesday morning.
The wreck occurred after a police officer saw a vehicle “traveling at a high rate of speed” on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and tried to perform a traffic stop, Wahl said.
The driver did not stop and sped away, leading to a brief pursuit before a supervisor called off the chase because of the dangerous speeds, Wahl said.
“Two officers working together in one vehicle were responding to that fleeing suspect,” Wahl told reporters Tuesday. “And ultimately the suspect vehicle collided at a high rate of speed into the side of their vehicle.”
The officer who was killed was identified as Austin Machitar, a “San Diego kid” who had been with the police department for around 5½ years, Wahl said.
“Austin was the kind of guy who you’d want on your team,” Wahl said.
Machitar was a field training officer and had trained the officer who was critically injured, Zach Martinez, 29, last year, Wahl said.
Martinez is a Navy reservist and EMT from Texas who has been with the police department for around 1½ years. “We are optimistic that he’s going to be OK, but he has a very long road to go,” Wahl said.
Police have not publicly identified the dead driver of the suspect vehicle.
Wahl said that because of the emotions involved following the death and critical injury of the officers, the California Highway Patrol is being asked to conduct an independent investigation.
That will include “a full reconstruction of exactly what happened,” he said.
The fiery crash occurred at around 11:30 p.m. Monday, NBC San Diego reported. Video from the station showed a silver sedan with a destroyed and mangled front end.
Two other vehicles were also involved. Both of those drivers were OK and suffered no significant injuries, police said.
“I can’t put into words the feelings that come at a time like this,” Wahl said. “When we have police officers that are coming to work to make a difference, to help those in need, and they’re putting their lives on the line for people that they don’t even know — and last night we lost a good one.”
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria called Machitar a hero and expressed his condolences to his family. He said the city would be there to support both the Machitar and the Martinez families.
“I ask for San Diegans to pray for Zach, his family. His wounds are extremely grave,” Gloria said.
Gov. Gavin Newsom also said the thoughts of him and his wife, Jennifer, are with the families and the police department.
He said the other car “broadsided” the officers’ vehicle.
“Jennifer and I are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Officer Machitar. His loved ones, friends and colleagues at the San Diego Police Department are in our hearts during this difficult time. Our thoughts are also with his fellow officer who was seriously injured,” Newsom said in a statement.
