Off-Duty LAPD Officer Killed In Torrance Crash Is Identified
TORRANCE (CBSLA.com) — Authorities Sunday identified the off-duty LAPD officer who was killed in a motorcycle accident in Torrance.
Erick Alcaraz of Carson was declared dead at the scene of the accident at 234th Street and Western Avenue about 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
"The driver of the car was about to turn northbound on Western [from 234th Street] and the motorcyclist was southbound on Western," said Torrance Police Lt. Brian O'Steen. The lieutenant said the motorcyclist T-boned the car, suffering fatal injuries.
In this year alone, the LAPD has lost seven officers, one of an apparent heart attack and six in traffic-related accidents.
An autopsy on Alcaraz was scheduled for Monday, Lt. Larry Dietz of the coroner's office said. Dietz also said the autopsy will determine if Alcaraz was under the influence of alcohol or drugs when he died.
"We always run that check. It's required by law," Dietz said.
"The entire LAPD is grieving the loss of a young officer killed in an off-duty traffic collision," LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said. "Our hearts go out to the family, friends and co-workers of this fine officer during this difficult time."
Officials said Alcaraz, a Marine Corps veteran, had been a patrol officer for 18 months. He had just finished his one-year probationary period at the Southwest Community Police Station on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Monday would have been his first day assigned to the West Los Angeles area, police said.
In the crash, Alcaraz's personal motorcycle, a 2014 Yamaha R6, hit the side of a car at an intersection, according to a statement from the Torrance Police Department.
A 53-year-old woman driving the other vehicle, a 2013 Kia Optima, was not injured and was not hospitalized, Torrance police said. A passenger in her car was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Torrance Police's Traffic Division asked anyone who saw the crash to call them at (310) 618-5557
Alcaraz is survived by his parents.
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