LOS ANGELES (AP) - A veteran police motorcycle officer died Wednesday, days after he was badly injured in a crash involving a driver who allegedly was high on cocaine.
Officer Chris Cortijo, 51, died at a hospital where he had remained in critical condition since the accident Saturday evening.
Motorcycle officers escorted a Los Angeles County coroner’s van as it took the officer’s body from Providence Holy Cross Medical Center to the coroner’s office.
Mayor Eric Garcetti praised Cortijo and ordered city flags lowered to half-staff.
The death of the 26-year veteran and former Marine, coupled with a second officer’s recent death, “remind all of us of the sacrifice that our bravest heroes make,” Garcetti said at a news conference, where he called Cortijo “the true angel in the City of Angels.”
Police Chief Charlie Beck called Cortijo “a good friend.”
Cortijo worked in the Valley Traffic Division. Beck said he was twice named Los Angeles Police Department Officer of the Year and during his career arrested more than 3,000 motorists for driving under the influence.
It was the “ultimate irony” and tragedy that he died because someone “callously and wantonly” drove under the influence of drugs, the chief said.
Cortijo was stopped at a traffic light in Sun Valley around 5:30 p.m. Saturday when a Chevrolet Blazer rear-ended his motorcycle, pinning him between the car and a Honda Accord in front.
Qaneak Shaney Cobb, 33, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to cocaine possession and driving under the influence of drugs. Cobb, who has prior convictions for grand theft and drug possession, could face more than 10 years in prison if convicted.
She could face additional charges because of the officer’s death.
Cortijo was the second LAPD officer killed in the line of duty in the past two months.
On March 7, Officer Nicholas Choung Lee, 40, died when his patrol car collided with a truck that may have lost its brakes on a steep road in Beverly Hills. Another officer and the truck driver were injured.
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