The California Freeway Patrol stated it has arrested the motive 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 line with 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 stated.
CHP officers stated 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 parking zone, northwest of the intersection. In addition 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 Crew decided that Zapata was touring north on Edgewood Drive at an unknown pace.
On the similar time, Sanders was touring west on Valley Boulevard within the intersection of Edgewood Drive at an unknown pace when each automobiles collided.
CHP investigators additionally decided that Sanders was in pursuit of Zapata when the crash occurred.
Authorities stated 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 stated Sanders sustained life-threatening accidents and was transported to Los Angeles Normal Medical Middle in Boyle Heights, the place he succumbed to his accidents.
Alhambra Police Chief Garrett Kennedy stated 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 stated. “He was the kind of officer who responded to each name whether or not he was dispatched to it or not; he was a kind of officers.”
He stated Sanders was captivated with health, preferred to journey and was an “enthusiastic Dallas Cowboys fan.”
“He shall be deeply missed by his household, associates and associates, who’re all one and the identical,” he stated.
