The California Freeway Patrol mentioned it has arrested the driving force concerned in a site visitors collision that left two folks useless, together with an Alhambra police officer.
The driving force, who stays hospitalized, was arrested on suspicion of second diploma homicide, in response to a press release from the CHP. The suspect has been recognized as 27-year-old Steven Zapata, a resident of El Monte.
Zapata is accused of driving a stolen Hyundai sports activities utility automobile and colliding with a police cruiser that was being pushed by 28-year-old Alec Sanders, an officer with the Alhambra Police Division. Sanders didn’t survive his accidents.
Zapata is awaiting medical clearance to be processed right into a detention facility, authorities mentioned.
CHP officers mentioned the crash occurred round 3 a.m. Thursday at Valley Boulevard and Edgewood Drive. CHP officers responding to the crash came across the broken silver Hyundai sports activities utility automobile in a enterprise car parking zone, northwest of the intersection. Additionally they discovered a broken patrol automobile within the westbound lanes of Valley Boulevard, west of Edgewood Drive.
A preliminary investigation by CHP’s Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Workforce decided that Zapata was touring north on Edgewood Drive at an unknown velocity.
On the identical time, Sanders was touring west on Valley Boulevard within the intersection of Edgewood Drive at an unknown velocity when each autos collided.
CHP investigators additionally decided that Sanders was in pursuit of Zapata when the crash occurred.
Authorities mentioned the Hyundai carried two passengers. A 52-year-old male passenger suffered life-threatening accidents and was transported by paramedics to a hospital.
“A second passenger, a 33-year-old Hispanic feminine, was ejected from the Hyundai and pronounced deceased on the scene,” the assertion learn.
Officers mentioned Sanders sustained life-threatening accidents and was transported to Los Angeles Common Medical Middle in Boyle Heights, the place he succumbed to his accidents.
Alhambra Police Chief Garrett Kennedy mentioned Sanders had been with the division for about eight months and has beforehand served with the Lengthy Seashore Police Division.
“He’s identified for his unwavering reliability,” Kennedy mentioned. “He was the kind of officer who responded to each name whether or not he was dispatched to it or not; he was a type of officers.”
He mentioned Sanders was obsessed with health, appreciated to journey and was an “enthusiastic Dallas Cowboys fan.”
“He can be deeply missed by his household, pals and associates, who’re all one and the identical,” he mentioned.
