A Los Angeles County sheriff’s motorcycle deputy, who was possibly chasing a speeding car, was killed after he crashed into another motorist in Lakewood on Thursday morning, Feb. 25, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said.
The collision occurred at Del Amo and Paramount boulevards, with the deputy attempting to conduct a traffic stop of a car some distance in front of him on northbound Paramount, Villanueva said.
A silver car that appeared to have a green light entered the intersection from westbound Del Amo and the deputy’s motorcycle hit the car, ejecting him, Villanueva said.
The deputy died instantly.
Thomas J. Albanese, 41, was a seven-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department who had realized a dream of becoming a motorcycle deputy nearly a year ago and was assigned to the Pico Rivera Station, Villanueva said.
On Thursday, Albanese was working overtime in Lakewood.
He had also worked as a field training officer at the Lakewood station and before that with the Transit Services Bureau and at Men’s Central Jail, Villanueva said.
A 10-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served four tours in Iraq, he is survived by his wife of 12 years, Erica, and two sons, ages 11 and 7, Villanueva said.
“He had received many commendations because of his work in patrol and helping the community,” Villanueva said. “He will be greatly missed.”
The crash occurred about 8:55 a.m., sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Bank said. Villanueva was at the scene about an hour later.
The deputy’s motorcycle appeared to have collided with the driver’s-side, front-quarter panel of a four-door sedan. The two vehicles ended up in the middle of the intersection.
The driver of the car, a woman, was treated on scene and not hospitalized, Villanueva said.
The motorcycle was visibly mangled, with its front tire destroyed. The airbags on the sedan had deployed.
Villanueva said the intersection was in transition when the Charger and the deputy went through. He added the driver of the silver car may have had a green light and was rolling into the intersection to head southbound on Paramount.
Villanueva said the short pursuit and crash were caught on multiple surveillance cameras and that investigators had enough video “to kind of piece it together.”
He said investigators will determine whether it was worth pursuing the Charger’s driver as part of the investigation.
Rick Hoover, 74, owns a barbershop on the southeast corner of the intersection and was pulling into the parking lot when he noticed a Dodge Charger speeding behind him on northbound Paramount, he said, being followed by the motorcycle deputy.
The light on Paramount at Del Amo had just turned red before the Charger sped through, Hoover said, and the deputy decided to follow.
The car on westbound Del Amo had just pulled into the intersection on a green light to make a left turn onto Paramount when the motorcycle ran into the engine on the driver’s side, causing the deputy to be ejected, Hoover said.
“It was very unfortunate,” Hoover said. “The officer was doing his job and maybe pressing to get the bad guy.”
The Charger sped off, he said.
“The policeman was at the stoplight down the street with his radar gun catching speeders,” Terry Winters told a videographer with the news group OC Hawk at the scene.
Then the Dodge Charger sped by, he said.
“I feel it’s a terrible waste that we lost a life when he’s just chasing speeders,” Winters said.
Carol Ealy, 65, lives a few blocks away from the intersection and heard the loud impact of the crash and subsequent sirens. Having lived in the Lakewood neighborhood for about two years, Ealy said this is the third fatal crash she’s seen at Del Amo and Paramount boulevards.
“It’s a sad day,” she said.
A few times a week Ealy said she drives through the intersection to take her teenage son to basketball practice and often sees people driving recklessly. Even if she has a green light, she hesitates to double-check if anyone is speeding or driving recklessly before going through the intersection.
“The way that bike looks, it’s demolished,” she said. “I feel bad for the family, I feel bad for the driver.”
Shortly after noon, the Sheriff’s Department started a procession, with 16 motorcycle deputies leading the coroner’s van to take the fallen deputy to the Medical Examiner-Coroner’s office.
Dozens of police vehicles followed the van, starting west on Del Amo before heading northbound on the 710 Freeway.
Villanueva said the deputies on scene kept their heads down and worked despite one of their own having fallen.
“The mood is somber and sad,” he said. “This was his home station. It’s just a tough day for everybody.”
Just the night before, a Los Angeles Police Department motorcycle officer was hospitalized after his bike was hit by an SUV in South Los Angeles. Police arrested the driver on suspicion of DUI, LAPD Sgt. Guy Juneau said. The officer was discharged from a local hospital on Thursday.
Today, I am saddened to announce that an @LASDHQ motor deputy was killed in a traffic collision this morning near Del Amo blvd and Paramount Blvd. This is all the info I can share at this time. Please be patient as we gather facts. We will hold a news conference soon.
— Alex Villanueva (@LACoSheriff) February 25, 2021
February 26, 2021 at 01:20AM
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Sheriff’s motorcycle deputy killed in Lakewood crash - LA Daily News
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