LAPD Officer Dies After Off-Duty Car Crash

A police officer who was injured in an off-duty crash earlier this week died Saturday, a Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman said.

Kathleen Talbot, a Rampart Station patrol officer, crashed early Thursday morning. Details surrounding the crash were unclear, but witnesses told radio station KHTS in Santa Clarita that Talbot's vehicle crossed the center line of Valencia Boulevard and crashed into a light pole.

Marty Siebe of Lebec witnessed the crash, and emailed KHTS to say that he "never saw her apply the brakes, and can only assume that she lost consciousness when she first began to drift."

An officer at the Rampart Station said the death was from natural causes.

"Hearts and prayers go out to the Talbot Family. You will be missed. #LAPD @LAPDRampart," Police Chief Charlie Beck tweeted Saturday.

In 2011, Talbot had been honored by LAPD for helping to save the life of an arrested person who had been trying to commit suicide inside a holding cell at the Rampart station, City News Service reported.

Police plan on releasing more information Monday.

Talbot's passing was the latest in a series of LAPD officer deaths this year.

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