Funeral services were pending Tuesday for a veteran Los Angeles Police Department sergeant who was fatally struck when he stopped his patrol vehicle on the southbound San Diego (405) Freeway in the Brentwood area to help a motorist involved in an earlier crash, who also died.
The crash occurred around 2 a.m. Monday on the freeway just north of Moraga Drive, authorities said.
According to the California Highway Patrol, officers from its West Los Angeles Office responded to the scene, initially in response to a single-vehicle crash.
“Officers found a Toyota pickup … disabled in the HOV and No. 1 lanes,” according to a CHP statement. “Shortly after the crash, LAPD Sgt. Shiou Deng arrived in a marked patrol vehicle with emergency lights activated and stopped behind the Toyota, partially blocking the same lanes. As Sgt. Deng exited his vehicle to assist …, a Nissan sedan, driven by Mario Bickham, struck the patrol vehicle and then hit Sgt. Deng.”
The collision also fatally injured the pickup driver, who was standing outside his vehicle in the traffic lanes and died at the scene.
Paramedics took Deng to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, where he died from his injuries.
A third person, presumably Bickham, was also taken by ambulance to a hospital, but there was no word on his condition.
Both sides of the freeway were closed as a medical evacuation helicopter was landed, but no crash victim was taken from the scene by air and northbound lanes were reopened at 4:23 a.m. after a 90-minute shutdown.
According to LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, the 53-year-old Shiou “stopped his patrol SUV to offer assistance.”
“He saw that it was a serious crash and he activated his rear amber lights in an effort to be able to slow traffic behind him and provide some level of safety for the people who were involved in that collision,” McDonnell said.
Deng exited his vehicle to check on the other motorists when he was struck by another vehicle, according to the chief.
“He was transported to (Ronald Reagan) UCLA Medical Center, and despite their valiant efforts, he did not make it,” McDonnell said.
Neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected as factors in the crash, according to the CHP.
The deadly crash and ensuing investigation shut down the southbound 405 in the Brentwood area through the morning rush hour. The closure lasted about 10 hours, according to the CHP.
McDonnell said the sergeant achieved his current rank two years ago and was assigned to the department’s West Los Angeles Division.
“He’s an exceptional guy,” McDonnell said. “A true leader. A true hero. He had 26 1/2 years on the LAPD. During that time, he spent about 17 of those years working our Mental Evaluation Unit, where he was out there every day caring for the most vulnerable in our society.”
The chief hailed Deng as “exceptionally funny” and “caring to a fault” for the officers under his command. McDonnell said Deng “tried to make the situation we face as good as it can be for his officers and for the people we have the privilege to serve in our society.”
“He died a hero,” McDonnell told reporters outside the hospital. “He was out there caring for others, putting their safety before his own.”
McDonnell, Mayor Karen Bass and a host of LAPD officers gathered at the hospital to honor Deng.
“The men and women of LAPD put their lives on the line for Angelenos each and every day,” Bass said. “Sgt. Deng served L.A. for more than 25 years. His last act was one of service — putting the safety and well-being of others above all else. … My thoughts are with Sgt. Deng’s family during this devastating time.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom also offered condolences, noting Deng’s 17 years with the LAPD’s Mental Evaluation Unit.
“We join his family, friends, and fellow officers in mourning, and in honoring his memory,” Newsom said. “May his service never be forgotten.”
Deng is survived by his wife and parents.
Around 9 a.m. Monday, dozens of LAPD officers gathered at the Westwood hospital for a procession escorting Deng’s body to the Los Angeles County Office of Medical Examiner in Boyle Heights.
Flags at city buildings were lowered to half-staff in Deng’s honor, Bass said.
The governor later announced that flags at the state Capitol and Capitol Annex Swing Space would also be lowered to half-staff to honor Deng.
The CHP’s Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team is leading the ongoing investigation into the fatal crash.
The name of the Toyota driver has not been released.
I truly feel that he was sitting in the middle of the freeway waiting for somebody to crash into the back of them so that they wouldn’t allow him to commit suicide he’d have somebody else pay for his life. Because he was too chicken to do the right thing in the first fucking place getting education and law enforcement and not have to go through this stupid shit of hating on everybody in the world. Just to be the biggest fucking fraud