Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Mourners pay respects to LASD recruit hit by wrong-way driver in 2022

Alejandro Martinez, 27, died Jul 28 -- eight months after battling the injuries he sustained when a wrong-way driver struck a group of sheriff's department recruits on a training run in Whittier

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Family, friends, and members of the community came together to grieve the death of LA County Sheriff’s recruit Alejandro Martinez. Alex Rozier reports for the NBC4 News on August 10, 2023.

Hundreds gathered Thursday in downtown Los Angeles to pay their respects to the LA County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) recruit who died of the injuries he sustained when a driver plowed through a group of recruits on a training run last year.

Mourners at the Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral paid their respects to Alejandro Martinez, who died July 28 after an eight-month battle with severe injuries, according to the sheriff’s department. Just prior to his death, Martinez was on a run with his academy colleagues in Whittier when a wrong-way driver struck the recruits, leaving 25 people injured.

“The more you know about the Martinez family, the more you just love them,” said LASD Sheriff Robert Luna. “And we’re all trying to draw from their strength.”

In a statement regarding Martinez’s death, LASD expressed their sorrow over the loss.

“Our condolences go out to Alejandro's family, friends, and academy classmates,” a statement from the sheriff’s department said. “He will forever live in our hearts and never be forgotten. Words cannot express the extent of our gratitude to everyone who assisted, and continue to assist, and helped ease the burden of that very difficult day.”

Funeral attendants looked back fondly on the 27-year-old’s life.

“What was produced from that family was just a beautiful young man,” said Guillermo Preciado, who attended the memorial service.

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