One San Diego police officer was killed and another is "fighting for his life" following a multi-vehicle crash in the Clairemont area that also left the suspect dead late Monday, officials said.
The crash that involved at least four vehicles was reported at around 11:30 p.m. near the intersection of Doliva Drive and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, just west of Interstate 805.
The incident began when police attempted to stop the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed along Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, but the driver failed to yield. A supervisor then called off the pursuit due to that speed, San Diego Police Department Chief Scott Wahl said.
Then, two officers in a police car "responded to that fleeing suspect," Wahl said. That is when the suspect car collided at a high rate of speed into the side of the police car.
"One of the officers was critically injured, and the driver of the police vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene," Wahl said.
Those officers were identified by the department's chief on Tuesday evening.
Officer Austin Machitar, 30, who was hired by the department in March of 2019, died at the scene, Wahl said.
"Austin was the kind of guy you want on your team. He was athletic. He was a competitor. He had a passion for training. He was one of our field training officers," Wahl said during a news conference at Sharp Memorial Hospital. "Austin had a very infectious smile and a character that made him one of a kind. He is survived by his sister and parents that live here."
Machitar's partner that night, 27-year-old Officer Zachary Martinez, was taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital with severe injuries and remains in critical condition, according to the police chief. Martinez has been with the department since March 2023 and is a Navy reservist, Wahl added.
"He's a kid from Texas that came to San Diego in the Navy and fell in love with this city. He was born and raised to serve. He's an EMT. His heart is into helping people," Wahl said. "We're very optimistic he's going to be OK, but he has a very long road to go."
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria also spoke during Tuesday's news conference and said it's important for the community to come together.
"I'll be thinking of Austin and his family. We'll be honoring him for what he is. This man was a hero. He was working on all of our behalf," Gloria said. "He has laid down his life as a service to the city — that's a debt we'll never be able to repay."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom reacted to the announcement of Machitar's death.
"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," he said in a statement.
The driver of the suspect car also died in the collision. His identity is expected to be released by officials investigating the crash.
Video shot after the wreck shows more than a dozen police vehicles in the area and at least four vehicles with severe damage from the fiery crash. While two other civilian vehicles were involved, according to SDPD, no other injuries to civilians were reported.
It was estimated that at least 20 deputies from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) responded to the radio call for help from SDPD, said SDSO Lt. Daniel Wilson.
Due to the enormity of the situation, Wahl said SDPD requested the California Highway Patrol to come in and conduct an independent investigation into the accident for a full reconstruction of exactly what happened. The investigation is ongoing.
"I can't put into words the feelings that come at a time like this where we have police officers coming to work, to make a difference and help those in need and putting their lives on the line for people they don't even know," Wahl said early Tuesday. "Last night we lost a good one."
Several other agencies from around the county also responded to the call for help, including officers from the CHP and the Escondido Police Department, according to each respective agency.
The offramps from southbound and northbound I-805 to Clairemont Mesa Boulevard were closed to all traffic for more than 12 hours. Around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, the offramps reopened.
The collision was captured on more than a few security cameras. Residents who were preparing for a night's sleep experienced the sudden shock of the tragedy happening just outside their windows.
The crash caused a ball of fire to rise above a gas station at the corner, two California Suites Hotel security cameras show.
"I thought it was in my dream at first. It just sounded like a bomb went off," witness Christopher Abrew said.
The flames were just too large to put out with any single water source available in the area. Still, customers at the C&R Food Mart pumping gas stopped what they were doing and made their best attempt by emptying fire extinguishers.
Video shows bystanders spraying the police car and throwing buckets of water. It wasn't until the fire department, with its resources, doused the flames.
According to the Officer Down Memorial page, a nonprofit dedicated to honoring fallen law enforcement officers, at least 36 San Diego police officers have, since 1913, died in the line of duty, plus one K9 officer. While the majority of them were shot, 11 were killed in incidents involving a car or motorcycle. The last officer killed in the line of duty was Officer Jonathan "JD" Deguzman in 2016.
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.
Look into the San Diego Police Department's pursuit policy
Once a field supervisor orders officers to stop chasing a car, it’s immediate. Not only must officers fully abandon any chase, but they are also not supposed to “trail” or even follow the suspect. But officers don’t have to wait for a supervisor to stop chasing a suspect.
Police are not allowed to drive on the wrong side of a divided road, with very few exceptions. Generally, officers cannot use their cars to box in, ram or bump a suspect’s car unless they have supervisor approval. An officer can only deploy stop sticks if dispatchers know about it and relay their location.
So, when can police start a chase in the first place? In San Diego, an officer just needs probable cause that a driver or passenger committed an infraction, misdemeanor, or felony. That’s where San Diego’s policy differs from other cities. In places like Dallas, Philly, and Phoenix, for example, police can’t chase suspects for misdemeanors. But here in San Diego, officers can chase drivers for things as minor as a traffic ticket. And the police chief said that’s how Monday night’s chase began — failure to yield to a traffic stop for speeding.
SDPD’s policy explicitly states officers should not assume everyone who flees from police or refuses to yield is a serious criminal suspect. Often, it says, ending a chase is the most appropriate decision.
San Diego’s pursuit policy recently came under scrutiny, after a high-speed chase ended with the death of two young bystanders. Among the list of changes recommended by the city’s independent police review commission: prohibit all car chases except for those involving violent felonies.
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Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the accident happened in the neighborhood of Clairemont on Clairemont Mesa Blvd., not in Clairemont Mesa.
