An on-duty San Diego Police Department officer was involved in a fiery crash early Sunday morning in San Diego's Nestor community.
According multiple emergency agencies, the crash happened around 5:20 a.m. on southbound Interstate 5 near Palm Avenue.
A SDFD dispatcher was unable to confirm how many cars were involved in the accident or which vehicle caught fire. However, video obtained from the scene shows a smashed, scorched police cruiser and grey vehicle near one another.
According to scene video, it appears that at least two vehicles were involved in the fiery collision. A TSA officer was also injured in the crash, possibly driving the second vehicle involved in the accident.
SDPD Officer Dan Lasher confirmed that the policeman was able to escape the flames and get out of his cruiser safely.
"He was conscious and talking at the scene, but they were talking about a possible head injury, so he was taken to a local hospital to be checked out," Lasher said.
Another unknown patient was transported from the scene with possible life-threatening injuries, according to the San Diego Fire Department. Further details have not yet been released.
Local
Witness Vanessa Madrigal and her family live near the site of the crash. Madrigal says she called 911 to report the collision after she was woken from her sleep by the loud sounds of the crash.
Madrigal says she was shocked to see the police car on fire, as well as another vehicle in bad shape. She ran out of her home and closer to the crash scene so she could give dispatchers more information about the accident.
California Highway Patrol is investigating to determine what caused the accident.
The names of the SDPD officer or additional victim involved in the crash have not been released.
Check back for updates for this developing story.
