Alejandro Martinez, a recruit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, tragically passed away after an eight-month battle with severe injuries sustained when he was struck by a wrong-way vehicle during training. Martinez, who was 27 years old, succumbed to his injuries on Friday at UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, according to sheriff’s officials.
The LASD issued a statement on Friday, stating, “On November 16, 2022, Alejandro was struck by a vehicle while training with his partners from Academy Class #464. He fought for his life for the past eight months, but unfortunately, Alejandro has now passed away. Surrounded by his family, friends, Sheriff Luna, and other department members, he has now found eternal rest. It is a tragic loss as he was not able to fulfill his calling of helping others.”
“Our condolences go out to Alejandro’s family, friends, and academy classmates. He will forever live in our hearts and never be forgotten. Words cannot express the extent of our gratitude to everyone who assisted, and continue to assist, in easing the burden of that very difficult day,” the LASD added.
Janice Hahn, the chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, also paid tribute to Martinez, saying, “Last year, when we initiated a new effort to recruit LASD deputies, Alejandro Martinez answered our call. His passing, months after that terrible crash, is nothing short of a tragedy. My prayers are with his family, friends, and fellow recruits. May he rest in peace.”
Martinez sustained his injuries when an SUV unexpectedly veered into a group of approximately 75 law enforcement trainees who were on a morning run. The incident occurred at around 6:30 a.m. in the 10600 block of Mills Avenue, near Telegraph Road, just a few blocks away from the sheriff’s STARS Explorer Academy law enforcement training center in Whittier.
According to sheriff’s officials, the recruits were running in columns northbound on the road when the southbound SUV swerved across to their side of the road, causing multiple injuries. The crash resulted in 25 recruits being injured, including Martinez.
The driver responsible for the incident, Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez, a 22-year-old resident of Diamond Bar, stated in 2022 that he fell asleep at the wheel. Gutierrez was arrested shortly after the crash on suspicion of attempted murder of a peace officer, but he was released the next day as sheriff’s officials determined that further investigation was necessary due to the complexity of the case.
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