Eastbound I-8 lanes to temporarily close for fallen SDPD officer’s funeral

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Drivers traveling eastbound on Interstate 8 Saturday morning should expect delays due to the funeral procession for the San Diego police officer killed in the line of duty last month, Caltrans stated in a release Thursday.

Officer Austin Machitar, a 30-year-old five-and-a-half year veteran with the department, was killed on Aug. 26 after a vehicle involved in a police pursuit on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard collided with his patrol car. The crash also left his partner, 27-year-old Zachary Martinez, with serious injuries.

Caltrans said the lanes of eastbound I-8 from Interstate 15 to Greenfield Drive in El Cajon will be affected by the funeral procession for Machitar Saturday between 7:15 and 8:45 a.m.

The procession will begin on eastbound I-8 at I-15 and will also affect the following ramps:

• Eastbound I-8 at Interstate 15
• Southbound I-15 to eastbound/westbound I-8
• Northbound I-15 to eastbound I-8
• Eastbound I-8 off-ramp to Mission Gorge Road/Fairmount Avenue
• Southbound State Route 125 to eastbound I-8
• Northbound SR-125 to eastbound I-8
• Southbound State Route 67 to eastbound I-8

Drivers may follow the funeral procession but are encouraged to take alternate routes. No vehicles will be allowed to enter or pass the procession during this time. Lanes will reopen as the procession moves east, Caltrans said.

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