The Los Angeles County health worker has recognized the person who was killed together with a Los Angeles Police Division sergeant in a multi-vehicle crash on the 405 Freeway this week.
The health worker recognized the person as 34-year-old Jesus Garcia. He and LAPD Sgt. Shiou Deng, 53, had been killed after being struck by incoming visitors within the Sepulveda Move.
The tragic sequence of occasions started shortly earlier than 2 a.m. on Monday, when Garcia was concerned in a solo automotive accident on the southbound lanes of the 405 Freeway, simply north of Moraga Drive within the Brentwood and Bel Air space, in accordance with the California Freeway Patrol.
Deng, who was touring on the identical freeway, was in his police cruiser when he stopped along with his rear emergency lights on to supply help, however upon exiting he and his cruiser had been struck by one other automobile.
Garcia, who was standing exterior on the freeway, was additionally struck and killed within the collision. Deng was taken to a hospital, the place he was pronounced lifeless.
Mario Bickham, the motive force of the automobile that struck the cruiser and in the end the 2 victims, was taken to a hospital. His situation is unknown.
The deadly crash prompted CHP to close down the freeway for hours because it carried out an investigation.
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell referred to as Deng a hero throughout a morning information convention following his loss of life.
“He was on the market caring for others, placing their security earlier than his personal,” he mentioned.
Deng had been promoted to sergeant about two years in the past, McDonnell mentioned. He spent the majority of his profession working within the company’s Psychological Analysis Unit, which helps officers reply to disaster calls.
“He was on the market day-after-day caring for probably the most susceptible in our society,” McDonnell mentioned. “Only a nice human being.”
The lack of Garcia has additionally been devastating for his household. Lidia Zepeda, who recognized herself as a childhood pal of Garcia, created a GoFundMe account to assist the household with funeral bills.
On the location, She described Garcia as a loving son, brother, uncle and pal “whose kindness and heat touched everybody he met.”
“As we seek for a funeral residence and make preparations,” Zepeda wrote, “we need to honor his reminiscence in a approach that displays the love and care he gave to these round him.
Occasions employees author Grace Toohey contributed to this report.