Heavy Duty Truck Had 'Some Kind Of Malfunction' In Crash That Killed Veteran LAPD Officer
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Investigators believe a roll-off truck had some kind of malfunction when it crashed into a Los Angeles Police Department cruiser in Beverly Hills Friday morning, killing a veteran officer and wounding his rookie partner.
Nicholas Choung Lee, 40, died and a female probationary officer was critically injured in the collision, which happened around 8 a.m. near Robert Lane and Loma Vista Drive.
The truck driver was also hurt.
The LAPD said it appears the accident was caused by a mechanical failure in the truck. Chief Charlie Beck added that the truck's brakes may have failed on the winding hill.
The California Highway Patrol, which is handling the investigation, said the truck was well over the 3-ton weight limit for the roadway, but trucks involved in construction are often exempt from the restrictions.
CBS2's David Goldstein reports that the heavy duty truck is registered to Roberto and Ulysses Mendoza.
Public records show Roberto associated with a company called Mendoza Roll Off Services.
A CHP source said the trucks passed their latest biannual inspection, which included the brakes.
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