Following a pursuit on Monday night, the driver of the other automobile struck and killed both the San Diego police officer and the driver of the other vehicle, according to the authorities.
At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Police Chief Scott Wahl stated that another officer in the same patrol car was “fighting for his life” after they were trapped by the speeding car.
According to Wahl, the collision happened as a policeman attempted to conduct a traffic check on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard after observing a car “moving at a high rate of speed.”
The driver did not stop and drove off, starting a brief pursuit that was eventually abandoned by a supervisor due to the car’s dangerously high speeds, according to Wahl.
“Two officers working together in one vehicle were responding to that fleeing suspect,” Wahl stated on Tuesday. “And ultimately the suspect vehicle collided at a high rate of speed into the side of their vehicle.”
According to Wahl, the deceased police officer was 30-year-old Austin Machitar, a “San Diego kid” who had served for around five and a half years.
“Austin was the kind of guy who you’d want on your team,” Wahl stated.
Zach Martinez, 29, stated that Machitar, a field training officer, had instructed the officer who suffered a serious injury the previous year.
Martinez, a Texas native and reservist in the Navy, has worked as an EMT for the police department for almost a year and a half. “We are optimistic that he’s going to be OK, but he has a very long road to go,” Wahl stated.
The deceased driver of the suspected car has not been named by the police in public.
Wahl stated that the California Highway Patrol is being asked to carry out an independent inquiry due to the intense feelings surrounding the officers’ deaths and serious injuries.
“A full reconstruction of exactly what happened” will be part of that, he said. Monday night at around 11:30 p.m., there was a fiery crash. A silver vehicle with a damaged and twisted front end was seen in station video.
There were two additional cars engaged as well. According to authorities, both of those drivers were unharmed and did not sustain any serious injuries.
“I can’t put into words the feelings that come at a time like this,” Wahl stated. “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.”
Mayor Todd Gloria of San Diego paid tribute to Machitar as a hero and offered his family his sympathy. He assured them that the city will stand with the families of Machitar and Martinez.
“I ask for San Diegans to pray for Zach, his family. His wounds are extremely grave,” Gloria stated.
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Additionally, Governor Gavin Newsom expressed that he and his spouse, Jennifer, are thinking about the families and the police force. He claimed that the second vehicle “broadsided” the police car.
“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 stated.
