By Miriam Raftery, with additional reporting by Karen Pearlman

Photo: LMPD Officer Lauren Craven, courtesy of La Mesa Police

Updated Oct. 21, 4 p.m. with comments from Chief Ray Sweeney,  City Manager Greg Humora, and Governor Gavin Newsom

October 21, 2025 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven, 25, was struck and killed last night after stopping to assist motorists involved in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 8 east at Fairmount Avenue at 10:24 p.m. last night.  One of the motorists also died, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Officer Craven was on duty returning from Central Jail when she stopped at the scene of the crash, where one vehicle had lost struck another, then lost control and rolled over, according to the California Highway Patrol.  A third vehicle then struck the disabled vehicle, 10 News reports.

The CHP told 10 News that after LMPD Officer Craven got out of her vehicle to assist the motorists, she was struck by an oncoming vehicle, after which a fifth vehicle struck those involved in the original crash.