SAN DIEGO — The funeral services and procession for fallen San Diego Police Officer Austin Machitar are scheduled for Saturday morning, September 21.
Family, friends and the San Diego Police Department will mourn the loss of Machitar with a public procession beginning at Snapdragon Stadium and ending at Shadow Mountain Church in El Cajon.
Memorial
The memorial for Machitar will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday and will be live-streamed on Shadow Mountain Church's website.
Traffic information
Drivers should expect delays when traveling on eastbound I-8 on Saturday between 7:15 a.m. through 8:45 a.m.
According to Caltrans, the procession is expected to impact the following ramps:
- Eastbound I-8 at I-15
- Southbound I-15 to eastbound/westbound I-8
- Northbound I-15 to eastbound I-8
- Eastbound I-8 off-ramp to Mission Gorge Road/Fairmount Avenue
- Southbound State Route 125 (SR-125) to eastbound I-8
- Northbound SR-125 to eastbound I-8
- Southbound State Route 67 to eastbound I-8
No vehicles will be allowed to enter or pass the procession. Lanes will reopen as the procession moves east toward Shadow Mountain Church in El Cajon.
Officer Austin Machitar
Officer Machitar was killed on August 26 after a suspect involved in a prior chase slammed into his police SUV. The other officer in the vehicle, Zachary Martinez, suffered burns, a broken neck and other serious injuries in the crash.
Machitar was 30 years old and a five-and-a-half-year veteran on the force who worked in the city's Northern Division. He had an infectious smile and passion to serve, following in the footsteps of his father.
“He’s the kind of guy you wanted on your team,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said.
"His father was a retired is a retired deputy Sheriff, and so he dedicated his life to public service, and we will not forget that," said San Diego Police Officer's Association Presiden, Jared Wilson.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom honored Machitar and Martinez in a statement that read in part, “Jennifer and I are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Officer Machitar. His loved ones, friends and colleagues at the San Diego Police Department are in our hearts during this difficult time. Our thoughts are also with his fellow officer who was seriously injured.”
Machitar, who is survived by his parents and sister, grew up in Chula Vista. He attended Otay Ranch High School, where he excelled in baseball.
How to help
The San Diego Police Officers Association has set up a way to help the officers. The funds go to the SDPOA Foundation, which directly assists officers in times of need. The funds raised now will go to the family of the deceased officer and to the second officer.
Click here for more information and to give.
