San Diego police identify officer killed in collision with speeding vehicle

SAN DIEGO (AP) – A San Diego police officer was killed when a fleeing vehicle crashed into his patrol car has been in the department since 2019, authorities said.

Officer Austin Machitar, 30, died in the collision late Monday night and his partner that same evening, Officer Zach Martinez, 27, was seriously injured, the department said.

The driver of the speeding car was also killed. No information about the driver has been released.

The department said Machitar was assigned to patrol duty, served as a field training officer and actively participated in video and photo shoots to recruit new officers.

“His outstanding service to our city makes him a hero,” Mayor Todd Gloria said in a statement.

According to a police report Tuesday evening, Martinez was in critical but stable condition at the hospital. There was no update Wednesday morning. Martinez has been with the department for 1 1/2 years and was a former intern of Machitar's, police said.

According to initial information from the police, an officer noticed the speeding vehicle and briefly gave chase before a superior called off the pursuit. Machitar and Martinez were on duty when the speeding vehicle crashed into the side of their patrol car.

The accident is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol.