Calif. Police Officer, Motorist Fatally Struck at Crash Scene

La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven was taking a report from a driver involved in a two-vehicle rollover near Grantville when another vehicle struck them both.

Joe Vince

Oct. 21, 2025

What to know

La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven and a motorist were killed after they were struck at a crash scene on Interstate 8 near Grantville.
Craven had stopped to help motorists involved in an earlier rollover crash when another vehicle hit her and one of the drivers.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the fatal incident.

A California police officer was killed when she was struck while she was working at a previous crash scene late Monday.

La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven responded to a rollover crash just before 10:30 p.m. involving two vehicles along Interstate 8 near Grantville, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. According to California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigators, Craven was taking a report on the roadside when another vehicle struck both her and the driver from the initial crash.

Craven, who had been returning to the city from San Diego Central Jail at the time of the crash, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver who was struck was also killed.

"Officer Craven’s actions in her final moments exemplified her unwavering dedication to service and the safety of others—a reflection of how she lived every day," the department stated in a social media post. "Officer Craven was known for her tenacity, courage, and compassion—qualities that inspired her peers and strengthened her community."

Craven, 25, had been with the department since February 2024, working in the Patrol Division.

The CHP is investigating the incident.

This article was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence.

About the Author

Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.