ALAHAMBRA, Calif. (KABC) — An Alhambra police officer has died following an early-morning chase that ended in a violent crash, leaving another person dead and two others injured, authorities confirmed Thursday.
Officer Alec Sanders, 28, had joined the department about eight months ago, officials said at a press conference outside L.A. General Medical Center, where he was taken following the crash.
Speaking at a news conference in front of the hospital, Alhambra Police Chief Garrett Kennedy said that Sanders had gone to work Wednesday night to cover a shift for somebody else. The chief said Sanders is survived by his fiancée, two younger sisters and a brother, and would be "remembered for his dedication, his kindness and positive impact he had on everyone."
"He's known for his unwavering reliability," Kennedy said. "He was the type of officer who responded to every call, whether he was dispatched to it or not. He was just one of those officers. He was passionate about fitness, and he could often be found working out — a habit that was reflected in his discipline, both on and off the job. His intelligence, work ethic and steady presence made him a respected partner and a friend."
The violent collision happened near Valley Boulevard and Edgewood Drive around 3 a.m.
Details about what led up the crash were not available.
A witness, who did not wish to be identified, said he heard a loud crash. He said a woman was ejected from a car and died at the scene, and a male passenger was also injured.
AIR7 was over the crash scene, where there were two cars – the patrol unit on Valley Boulevard and the suspect vehicle, which ended up in a parking lot behind a nearby Wienerschnitzel restaurant . A covered body laid in an alley near that car.
Both vehicles sustained significant damage. Several streets were shut down near the crash site.
Police later confirmed that there were three people in the vehicle that was reportedly being chased. One died at the scene, another suffered significant injuries and the third had non life-threatening injuries. The three individuals were not immediately identified.
Shortly after 11:30 a.m., Sanders' flag-draped body was placed in a van and escorted by a solemn procession to the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office, located less than a mile from the hospital.
The California Highway Patrol is assisting Alhambra police with the crash investigation.
"It is a tragedy, and we offer our sincere condolences to the Alhambra Police Department, to the residents of Alhambra and Officer Sanders' friends and family," a CHP spokesman told reporters. "At this time, I don't have a lot of information about the incident itself, other than the fact that we are investigating in cooperation with the district attorney's office as well."
City News Service contributed to this report.
