Lubbock welcomes San Diego cop home after high-speed crash

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A San Diego police officer is now on the road to recovery in his hometown of Lubbock. Zachary Martinez nearly lost his life in the line of duty last month.

He was greeted by police officers as well as family and friends at Lubbock Airport when he returned to the Hub City on Sunday evening.

“I was shocked. I wasn't expecting it at all, especially when they got on the plane and asked me to stand up and go to the front,” Martinez said. “I was expecting a few relatives and friends and stuff, but when I got out and saw the whole lineup of everyone there, it was great. It was fantastic.”

The support of his fellow campaigners in blue was no surprise to Martinez's father Robbie James.

“Brothers and sisters around the world, you know, he's a part of this and he deserves it. He's a hero … and these guys showed it,” James said.

Martinez and his instructor Austin Machitar were involved in a chase in San Diego last month when they were struck by the driver. Machitar, also Zach's best friend, died in the accident.

Machitar's funeral took place on Saturday, where Martinez was also honored for his fight after suffering life-threatening injuries.

“We were at the funeral on Saturday and saw everyone you could imagine. It's a great brotherhood, a sisterhood, it's incredible,” Martinez said.

After the accident in late August, Martinez spent about a week in the hospital in San Diego. He was sent home to a warm farewell and applause from his colleagues.

“They send us to San Diego with the entire police force and then to come home and experience this is a great feeling,” said Martinez's mother, Sabrina James.

Now, a few weeks later, he's back where his desire to become a police officer was born. Martinez was part of the Lubbock Police Department's Explorer program before graduating from Coronado High School in 2015.

Because he was too young for a career in the police force, he joined the Navy. About a year and a half ago, he settled in San Diego to pursue a career as a police officer.

He wants to return to the field but needs some time to recover.

“I have to start healing the burns. I have burns on both hands and then also on my left knee. Then we have prepared the physical therapy. So I have to start physical therapy on my right shoulder, my neck and then my left knee. Once all that is done, I can fully get back to the work I want to do,” he said.

But Martinez is not alone. He has support from San Diego to the South Plains.

“We want him to know that we are all here to support him in his recovery. Obviously, he has a long road ahead of him. But we want him to know that we are all here for him at any time, if he needs to reach us, call us, whatever it is, if we need to get him anything, we are here,” said Caitlynn Jeffries, a spokeswoman for the Texas Tech Police Department.

All rights reserved.