Calif. Police Officer Dies after Collision During High-Speed Chase

A California police officer died from injuries he suffered in a collision during a high-speed chase Thursday that also left another person dead.

Alhambra Police Officer Alec Sanders was chasing three suspects in an SUV at about 3 a.m. as he was chasing three suspects in an SUV, KTLA-TV reports. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“He was known for his unwavering reliability,” Chief Garrett Kennedy said during a new conference. “He was the type of officer who responded to every call, whether he was dispatched to it or not.”

Two passengers were ejected from the SUV when it collided with Sanders' cruiser. One passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The SUV's driver suffered moderate injuries and was being questioned by police. 

No details were released about what led to the chase, and the incident is under investigation. Kennedy said Sanders had been working another officer's shift at the time, according to KTTV-TV.

Sanders, 28, had been with the department for eight months. He had previously served with the Long Beach Police Department and was engaged to be married.

“He was a devoted fiancé and a dedicated family man,” said Kennedy. 

“He will be deeply missed by his family, his friends and his coworkers, who are all one in the same. The Alhambra Police Department is one big family,” he added.

A procession of law enforcement officers escorted Sanders' body from the hospital to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.