SAN DIEGO — An officer with the San Diego Police Department is dead and another remains in critical condition after a pursuit ended in a crash. The deadly crash happened just after 11:30 p.m. Monday in the 5200 block of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.
The latest
In a press conference on Tuesday, San Diego Police Department Chief Scott Wahl identified the two officers involved in the crash.
Wahl identified the officer killed in the crash as 30-year-old Austin Machitar. According to Wahl, Machitar was a five-and-a-half-year veteran of the force, who grew up in San Diego.
“He’s the kind of guy you wanted on your team,” Wahl said.
Wahl said he is survived by his sister and parents who live in San Diego.
“I can’t imagine what his parents are going through right now,” Wahl said.
Wahl said the focus of the San Diego Police Department is helping the family grieve and get through the process. The officer injured in Monday’s crash was identified as 27-year-old Zachary Martinez.
Wahl said Martinez has been a San Diego Police officer for a year and half, assigned to the department's Northern Division. Martinez was a trainee of Machitar in 2023 and would occasionally ride together as partners during patrol shifts.
Martinez is a Navy reservist from Texas who came to San Diego while serving in the Navy. “He was born and raised to serve,” Wahl said.
Wahl said Martinez sustained a long list of serious injuries and is fighting for his life.
“We’re very optimistic he’s going to be okay, but he has a very long road to go,” Wahl said.
How to help
The San Diego Police Officers Association has set up a way to help the officers. The funds go to the SDPOA Foundation, which directly assists officers in times of need. The funds raised now will go to the family of the deceased officer and to the second officer.
Click here for more information.
"Austin and Zach are heroes. Their sacrifice will not go unheard and unnoticed by this community, because it loves their police officers. And we need your help," said Jared Wilson, San Diego Police Officer's Association President.
"We're very sad. We're in deep mourning," he said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom honored Machitar and Martinez in a statement that read in part,
“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.”
WATCH FULL 6 PM SDPD Briefing | San Diego Police give update on crash that left one officer dead, another critically injured
Monday night
According to SDPD Chief Scott Wahl, an officer tried to stop a speeding car headed down Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, but the driver refused to pull over. Due to the high rate of speed, a supervisor terminated the chase.
However, everything unfolded quickly.
Two officers responding to that initial call of a speeding car ultimately collided with the suspect's vehicle. After the crash, the police cruiser was engulfed in flames. One officer died and the other was critically injured and is in the intensive care unit.
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
There were two other vehicles involved in the crash. Chief Wahl said both drivers are ok.
“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 they are putting their lives on the line for people that they don’t even know. And last night, we lost a good one," said Chief Wahl.
According to Chief Wahl, because of the emotion behind this incident, the department requested the California Highway Patrol conduct an independent investigation of the crash.
WATCH: 4P Update | San Diego Police officer dead after crash in Clairemont Mesa another in critical condition