A veteran San Diego police officer was killed and a second officer was seriously injured Monday night when their vehicle was involved in a crash while responding to a high-speed chase that also killed the other driver, authorities said.
Police Chief Scott Wahl, visibly moved, identified the officers at a news conference Tuesday. Austin Machitar, a five-year member of the department, died in the incident, he said. His partner, Zachary Martinez, 27, was seriously injured.
Wahl said Machitar, 30, was a field training officer and his partner was one of his former trainees. “Austin had a very contagious smile and a personality that made him one of a kind,” the chief said.
San Diego police officer Austin Machitar was killed in the crash Monday night.
(San Diego Police Department)
Martinez has been with the department for just over a year, Wahl said, and is a Navy reservist from Texas.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said the officer was “fighting for his life.”
“His injuries are extremely serious,” Gloria said.
The identity of the driver of the car pursued by police has not been released.
In Monday night’s incident, police said officers attempted to stop a speeding driver on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, but the driver refused to stop and instead led them on a brief chase before abandoning the pursuit due to the high speed.
A San Diego police officer and a suspect died in a car crash after a chase on Monday, August 26, 2024. (Credit: Emilia Mangiapia of the Italian newspaper Il Mattino)
The suspect fled the scene and crashed into a police vehicle driven by Machitar. He and Martinez responded to the scene shortly after 11:30 p.m. The collision caused the police vehicle to catch fire. Machitar died at the scene and Martinez was rushed to the hospital, police said.
The driver of the car fleeing police was also killed in the collision, according to Wahl.
“We all know the dangers,” Wahl said, clearing his throat and struggling to control his emotions, “but it’s days like today that remind us very concretely of how dangerous this job is.”
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
Italian tourist Emilia Mangiapia was staying at a hotel near the intersection where the vehicles collided on Monday.
“We heard an explosion and saw the ambulance arriving to try to help the people in the cars,” said Mangiapia, a journalist with the Italian daily Il Mattino.
“Then we saw the explosion of fire.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom released a statement Tuesday saying, “Jennifer and I are devastated by the tragic loss of Officer Machitar. His family, friends and colleagues at the San Diego Police Department are in our hearts during this difficult time. Our thoughts also go out to his fellow officer who was seriously injured.”
Flags at the state Capitol will be flown at half-staff in honor of Machitar, Newsom said.
