LAPD officer killed in hit-and-run crash; person detained

The Los Angeles police officer killed in a hit-and-run accident early Saturday in Harbor City was identified as Roberto Sanchez.

LAPD Cmdr. Andy Smith said the impact of the crash was so severe that the patrol car radio was inoperable and the surviving officer had to use own cellphone to call for help. That officer is in serious condition.

The driver of the SUV who hit the patrol car fled the scene, Smith said. A “person of interest” has been detained, police said.

Smith said the officers were making a U-turn to follow a car moving at a high rate of speed when they were broadsided by the SUV.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck spoke to reporters at the scene Saturday morning. He said Sanchez was a six-year veteran who survived by his wife. The officer who was hurt in the crash was his best friend, Beck said.

It marks the third death of an LAPD officer in as many months. In March, an officer was killed in a crash involving a truck in Beverly Hills. In April, an LAPD motorcycle officer was killed after being hit by an alleged drunk driver.

According to KTLA News, Saturday’s accident occurred at 3:45 a.m. near the intersection of Anaheim Street and President Avenue.

“The SUV hit the police vehicle – we’re calling it a T-bone-type accident – and it caved in the driver’s side of the vehicle, and that’s why the driver has the very serious injuries,” Lt. John Pasquariello said.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

[For the Record, 11:11 a.m., May 3: An earlier version of this post and its headline said the driver of the SUV had been captured and arrested. Police have only said that a person of interest has been detained.]