SDPD sergeant gives update on officer fighting for his life after fiery crash

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A week after a San Diego Police officer and a teen suspect died , another officer also in the vehicle after a police pursuit turned into a deadly crash remains fighting for his life in the hospital.

San Diego Police Officer Zachary Martinez is still in the hospital as he continues to recover from critical injuries. Officer Austin Machitar died at the scene of the fiery crash in Clairemont that began as a high-speed police pursuit .

Officer Machitar was a Chula Vista native who had been with the police department for five-and-a-half-years. He was 30 years old. A police procession honoring Officer Machitar took place on Friday, Aug. 30 . Those in the area of I-805 in Clairemont that morning passed San Diego Fire-Rescue and SDPD officers standing on top of their vehicles on the bridge overpasses lining the interstate as the procession passed by below.

A date has not yet been announced for Machitar’s funeral.

Officer Martinez, 27, remains in the hospital in critical condition. He is a Texas native and has been with the San Diego Police Department for one-and-a-half years.

San Diego Police Sergeant Jared Wilson was live on KUSI Monday with an update on Officer Martinez.

Sgt. Wilson said the police department flew out Officer Martinez’s family from Texas and are providing his mother and father with food and housing while he continues to recover in the hospital and fight for his life.

He also gave an update on Officer Martinez’s recovery and said they have had some good signs this week without disclosing much more other than he is “extremely proud of how tough he is.”

Officer Machitar was the first San Diego Police Officer to die in the line of duty since Officer De Guzman in 2016 .

The community can donate to help the families of both officers at porac.org/fundraiser/sandiegopd_officers .

As of noon on Thursday, Sept. 3, $206,213 has been raised out of the fundraiser’s $250,000 goal.

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