SAN DIEGO—One San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officer was dead and another was clinging to life Aug. 27 following a fiery Clairemont Mesa-area traffic crash that also killed a motorist—possibly a teenage boy—who allegedly fled from an attempted late-night traffic stop.
The police SUV cruiser, the BMW the suspect was driving at high speed, and several other vehicles collided at about 11:30 p.m. Monday in the 5200 block of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, near Doliva Drive, SDPD Chief Scott Wahl told reporters.
The crash sent one of the officers through the windshield of the police vehicle, which then caught fire, OnSceneTV reported. The other officer, who was driving, died in the wreckage. Paramedics took the survivor to a trauma center, where he was admitted in critical condition.
The suspect also was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Wahl said. He was believed to be a 14- or 15-year-old boy, according to the video news service. His name and those of the involved officers were withheld pending family notification.
Fighting back tears as he spoke to reporters, Wahl said, “It is for any other reason that I'd rather be in front of you all today than to have to announce the passing of one of our officers last night, and a second officer that’s fighting for his life in the hospital.
“Last night, we had a vehicle that was traveling at a high rate of speed down Clairemont Mesa Boulevard,” Wahl said. “We had a police officer that tried to initiate a traffic stop. The [suspect] failed to yield, and a brief pursuit ensued. Due to the high rate of speed, a supervisor terminated that pursuit. Two officers working together in one vehicle were responding to that fleeing suspect, and ultimately the suspect vehicle collided at a high rate of speed into the side of their vehicle.”
The people in the other cars involved in the pileup were not seriously injured, the police chief said.
The SDPD has turned over investigations into the fatal crash to the California Highway Patrol “due to the enormity of the situation and all the emotion that’s behind it,” Wahl said.
“I can’t put into words the feelings that come at a time like this, when we have police officers that are coming to work to make a difference, to help those in need, and are putting their lives on the line for people they don’t even know,” Wahl told reporters. “And last night we lost a good one.”
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 started a donation campaign to benefit the families of the involved officers, with a goal of $250,000 to aid with funeral and medical costs. Contributions may be made online at porac.org/fundraiser/sandiegopd_officers/.
