By Miriam Raftery

Updated August 29, 2024 with identity of the teen suspect who died at the scene following a pursuit.

August 28, 2024 (San Diego) –  A San Diego Police officer is dead and a second officer hospitalized in critical condition after their patrol vehicle was struck by a suspect following a high-speed chase. The suspect also died at the scene on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. west of I-805 around 11:30 p.m. on Monday.

Ironically, the chase initiated by other officers had been called off to protect public safety, shortly before the suspect slammed into the vehicle driven by Officer Austin Machitar, who was responding to a call to assist with the pursuit. A field training officer who appeared in SDPD recruitment flyers and videos, Officer Machitar had just celebrated his 30^th birthday when the deadly crash occurred. He died at the scene.

Officer Zach Martinez, 27, a Navy reservist trained by Machitar, was in the patrol vehicle’s passenger seat during the crash. As of yesterday, he remained hospitalized at Sharp Memorial with serious injuries.

The suspect has been identified as Edgar Giovanny Oviedo, 16, of San Diego.