This is part of my ongoing series Officer Down – in honour of police officers slain in the line of duty.
Tragedy struck the San Diego Police Department on June 4, 2021, when married Detectives Ryan Park and Jamie Huntley-Park were killed by a driver going the wrong way on Interstate 5. That vehicle struck the detectives’ vehicle, killing them both.
The detectives were in a blue city-owned Ford Fusion sedan when they were hit by a white Honda Civic going at a high rate of speed in the wrong way down Interstate 5 near the U.S.-Mexico border south of downtown San Diego.
The female driver of the other vehicle also died after her car slammed into the detectives’ sedan and burst into flames.
“Today, my heart aches as we mourn the tragic passing of two decorated detectives. I had the honor of promoting Detective Jamie Huntley-Park & Detective Ryan Park in 2018. They were an incredible part of our team who helped countless San Diegans,” said Chief David Nisleit in a Twitter post.
The two met at the police academy, married in 2016 and were both promoted to detective on the same day nearly three years ago, Chief Nisleit said.
“Jamie and Ryan spent their lives serving the city, protecting the city. And so, I express my appreciation to both of them for their service and sacrifice to the city and to the people who live here,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “Again I extend my condolences on behalf of a grateful city, to their families.”
Not enough detail here. Therefore I assume the female driver was a stoned illegal. Just a thought….
Police declined to say whether or not the female driver was intoxicated. “We are still investigating all aspects of this tragedy” is the line so far…
Ignore first comment. Looked it up… From San Diego Newspaper:
The fiery collision also killed the errant motorist, 58-year-old Sandra Daniels of Ramona. It was unclear how and why Daniels wound up driving on the wrong side of the freeway near Dairy Mart Road at speeds up to 90 mph, though her husband told the San Diego Union-Tribune in an interview six days later that his wife had diabetes and may have become disoriented behind the wheel due to low blood sugar.
But the fact it was near the border would give rise to such thought when full info not presented.