Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Los Angeles Thursday to pay their respects to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) recruit who died from injuries sustained when a driver struck a group of recruits during a training run last year.
Mourners at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels paid their respects to Alejandro Martínez, who died on july 28 following an eight-month battle with serious injuries, according to the sheriff’s department.
Just before his death, Martinez was running with his academy colleagues in Whittier when a wrong-way driver struck recruits, injuring 25 people, on November 16, 2022.
Alejandro Martinez, a recruit for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, died eight months after he was struck by a car while training with his colleagues at the sheriff’s academy.
“The more you know about the Martinez family, the more you love them,” LASD Sheriff Robert Luna said. “And we’re all trying to capitalize on its strength.”
In a statement on Martinez’s death, LASD expressed its sorrow for the loss.
“Our condolences go out to Alejandro’s family, friends and academy classmates,” a statement from the sheriff’s department said.
“He will always live in our hearts and will never be forgotten. Words cannot express the extent of our gratitude to all who helped, and continue to help, and helped ease the burden of that very difficult day.”
Those attending the funeral fondly remembered the life of the 27-year-old.
“What was produced from that family was just a beautiful young man,” said Guillermo Preciado, who attended the memorial service.
Lauren Preciado is the latest cadet to be released from the hospital seriously injured by a driver who struck at least two dozen cadets while conducting training in Whittier in November.
The driver of the incident, who was identified as Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez, a Diamond Bar resident, he was arrested hours after the accident on suspicion of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.
He was released a day later, and sheriff’s officials called the case complex.
The investigation is ongoing.
This story first appeared on Telemundo 52’s sister station, NBCLA. Click here to read this story in English.
