MetroLink Crash - LAPD Officer Killed, LASD Deputy Injured

Willowdared · #1 09-13-08, 05:23 PM

They don't have any news info about the deputy, but I heard he suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung. He is expected to survive. Very moving pictures on the site link

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,2830500.story

By Andrew Blankstein, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 13, 2008
About 6:30 p.m., two Los Angeles police officers ran from the wreckage asking whether anyone lived in the area. Resident Jim Halty beckoned them over to his house near the tracks and after a brief conversation, Halty gave the officers an American flag.

Almost an hour later, along the side of the wreckage, uniformed LAPD officers formed two lines, waiting for rescue crews to remove the body of a fellow officer. With somber faces and hands clasped in front of them, they waited in silence, many glancing up at the hole cut in the twisted metal of the front train car where firefighters were pulling bodies. Later, sheriff's deputies joined the formation.

It was 10:45 p.m. when a phalanx of nearly a dozen yellow-coated firefighters slowly carried the officer's body out of the wreckage, passing firefighters with their hard hats cradled to their chests and uniformed police officers saluting. The body, which was on the gurney-like basket, was handed off to police officers, who carried it to an ambulance.

The Los Angeles Police Department identified the dead officer as Spree Desha, a 35-year-old resident of Simi Valley. Assistant Police Chief Jim McDonnell said the she had been on the force for seven years.

McDonnell said she had worked in the North Hollywood Division and was most recently assigned to the Office of Operations in downtown Los Angeles "Public service was what she was all about," McDonnell said. "It's a tremendous loss to all of us."

**BigDawg** · #2 09-13-08, 05:50 PM

RIP my Brother (Sister)

**Jenna** · #3 09-13-08, 06:11 PM

May the LAPD officer rest in peace. Hope the LASD deputy recovers soon.

**CTR man** · #4 09-13-08, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PDawg

They don't have any news info about the deputy, but I heard he suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung. He is expected to survive. Very moving pictures on the site link

Very moving pictures indeed.

It appears that the Metrolink engineer ran a red light signal.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,3660884.story

God has yet another angel. My condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the fallen officer.

**deputysykes** · #5 09-14-08, 08:15 AM

Thoughts and prayers.

**2 Blue 4 U** · #6 09-16-08, 11:24 AM

My condolences to her friends and family, may she Rest in Peace

Full and Speedy recovery to the LASD Deputy Injured

**10-42Adam** · #7 09-16-08, 11:56 PM

RIP

PapaBear · #8 09-20-08, 12:10 PM

Her hat and damaged badge on display

The L.A.Times article:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,5547539.story

RIP!

**CTR man** · #9 09-20-08, 04:05 PM

Does anyone know what the correct spelling of this wonderful officers last name is? I have seen Desha, DeSha, De Sha. I would like to remember her correctly. Ok, I have it now, watched the video clip in the link that was posted. Thanks for sharing it here.

Whatever the case, Rest assured Officer DeSha that God only takes the very best. From what I read about you, you certainly qualified in that dept. while you were here.