Alejandro Martinez, a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department recruit who was struck by a vehicle driving the wrong way while training with his sheriff's academy colleagues last year, has died after an eight-month battle with severe injuries, the LASD said.
Martinez was running with his academy colleagues in Whittier on Nov. 16, 2022 when the collision occurred. He succumbed to his injuries Friday, at UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, the LASD said.
“Surrounded by his family, friends, Sheriff (Robert) Luna, and other department members in support of his family, Alejandro has now gone to his eternal resting place," the department statement said. “Tragically, 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, and helped ease the burden of that very difficult day.”
“We would like to thank the California Highway Patrol Santa Fe Springs Office, CHP Southern Division Investigative Services and M.A.I.T. - Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team for conducting a comprehensive joint investigation with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau, and the numerous Los Angeles County Fire Department stations and the many health care professionals who provided medical care.”
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The crash injured 25 recruits, including Martinez, sheriff's officials said at the time.
The motorist who struck the cadets, Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez, 22, of Diamond Bar, told reporters in 2022 that he fell asleep at the wheel.
He was arrested hours after the crash and booked on suspicion of attempted murder of a peace officer, but Gutierrez was released a day later with sheriff's officials saying the complex case needed more extensive investigation.
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