Motorcycle Officer Killed, Another Hurt In Funeral Procession Crash

TORRANCE (CBS) — A motorcycle officer was killed and another critically injured after they crashed into each other during a funeral procession in Torrance Thursday.

The collision occurred at 12:34 p.m. at 227th Street and Hawthorne Boulevard, said Capt. Steve Deuel of the Torrance Fire Department.

Torrance police said 44-year-old Andrew Garton, of the Hawthorne Police Department, died after he was thrown into oncoming traffic during the collision with Officer Rex Fowler, of the El Segundo Police Department.

Officer Garton is survived by a wife and two sons, who are seven and 12 years old.

Fowler suffered a broken leg and is listed in stable condition at Harbor General Hospital.

The funeral procession was for a Manhattan Beach police officer, Mark Vasquez, who died of cancer.

The California Highway Patrol was investigating the crash.

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