Officer Austin Machitar was killed in a vehicle crash at 11:30 p.m. near the intersection of Doliva and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.
Officer Machitar and his partner Zachary Martinez were pursuing a speeding vehicle that failed to yield on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard. The pursuit was called off due to the high rate of speed when the fleeing car slammed into Officer Machitar's patrol vehicle at 90 mph, causing the police cruiser to be engulfed in flames. Officer Machitar was pronounced dead at the crash site. Officer Martinez was transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital in critical condition.
The suspect driver of the pursuit vehicle died in the crash.
