A veteran Los Angeles Police Department sergeant was struck and killed when he got out of his vehicle to assist with a collision on the 405 Freeway early Monday morning, officials said.
Both collisions occurred around 2 a.m. in the southbound lanes of the 405 near Getty Center Drive.
Authorities said Sgt. Shiou Deng came upon a recent collision on the 405 Freeway near Moraga Drive around 2 a.m. and stopped with his lights on to help.
“He exited from his police vehicle and as he approached the crash site, he was struck from the rear by oncoming traffic,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said during a news conference later in the morning.
“He was transported to UCLA Medical Center, and despite their valiant efforts, he did not make it. He passed sometime this morning,” McDonnell said.
Video showed a badly damaged pickup truck, a sedan with airbags deployed and Deng’s LAPD patrol car left on the southbound side of the freeway as emergency crews were responding.
An unidentified victim from one of the vehicles was pronounced dead at the scene.
A third person involved in the crash was also transported to a local hospital in unknown condition.
McDonnell described Deng, 53, as a 26-year veteran of the Police Department who spent 17 years on the mental evaluation unit. “He was out there every day caring for the most vulnerable in our society,” McDonnell said.
Deng is survived by his wife and parents.
Firefighters stood at attention and saluted during a procession transporting Deng’s body from Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center to the Hollenbeck area coroner’s office later in the morning.
The investigation into the crash forced the entire southbound side of the freeway to be shut down.
Motorists traveling through the Sepulveda Pass were experiencing massive delays as drivers were being taken off the freeway at Getty Center Drive at 7 a.m.
At 10 a.m., the CHP announced the closure had been moved further away from the crash site, with traffic being diverted off the 101 Freeway. The 405 was reopened shortly after 12:15 p.m.
Details regarding memorial services for Deng and opportunities for the public to pay their respects are expected to be shared in the coming days.