Funeral procession underway for police officer killed in car crash in San Diego

A procession of police and fire vehicles began its slow journey from Mission Valley to a church in El Cajon early Saturday morning to attend the memorial service for the San Diego police officer who was killed in the line of duty last month.

Officer Austin Machitar, 30, died when a teenage driver fleeing from other police officers crashed into his patrol vehicle in Clairemont on August 26. Officer Zach Martinez, 27, who was in the passenger seat, was seriously injured.

The train left Snapdragon Stadium at 7:45 a.m. and headed east on Friars Road, briefly south on Interstate 15, and then east on Interstate 8 to Greenfield Drive in El Cajon.

The convoy of vehicles drove in the slow lanes of the highway. The exits were closed along the approximately 16-kilometer stretch. Other first responders from various agencies stood on the overpasses and saluted as the convoy passed beneath them.

Near Shadow Mountain Community Church, vehicles will pass under a giant American flag flown by two fire trucks. Machitar's memorial service will begin at 10 a.m. It is open to the public.

A live feed of the service will be available at memorial.shadowmountain.org.

A private burial and reception will follow the funeral service.

Machitar, who grew up in the Chula Vista area, was the son of a retired San Diego County sheriff's deputy. He graduated from Otay Ranch High School in 2012, where he played on the baseball team.

Originally published: September 21, 2024 at 8:41 am