Police Officer Austin Machitar

Austin Machitar

Police Officer Austin Machitar was killed in a vehicle crash at 11:30 p.m. at the 5200 block of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.

An officer was pursuing a speeding vehicle that failed to yield for a traffic stop. When the pursuit reached a high rate of speed, it was called off. Officer Machitar and his partner were responding to the area of the fleeing suspect 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. The other officer was transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital in critical condition.

The driver of the pursuit vehicle died in the crash.

Officer Machitar had served with the San Diego Police Department for over five years. He is survived by his parents and sister.