L.A. County deputy recruit dies months after being struck by driver in South Whittier
Vivian Chow
A deputy recruit who was struck by a wrong-way driver while jogging with a group of recruits in South Whittier died Friday night after being hospitalized for eight months.
Alejandro Martinez, 27, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Recruit, died at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his family, friends, L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna and other department members.
The Army veteran and Cal State Northridge graduate was one of 75 recruits who were out on a training run at about 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 16, 2022.
That’s when the suspect, Nicholas Gutierrez, 22, from Diamond Bar, plowed into the large group with his SUV. The collision left 25 people injured at the time — five of them critically and three others severely injured.
Martinez was rushed to the hospital after suffering broken legs, brain swelling and internal bleeding from the crash. He remained hospitalized until his passing on Friday night.
Alejandro Martinez was among multiple L.A. County Sheriff Deputy recruits were struck by a vehicle in South Whittier, California, on Nov. 16, 2022. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)
Alejandro Martinez was among multiple L.A. County Sheriff Deputy recruits were struck by a vehicle in South Whittier, California, on Nov. 16, 2022. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)
Alejandro Martinez, 27, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Recruit, died at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his family, friends, L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna and other department members. (KTLA)
A procession took place on July 29, 2023 as deputies and law enforcement escorted Alejandro Martinez’s body from the hospital to the L.A. County Coroner’s Office. (OC Hawk)
A procession took place on July 29, 2023 as deputies and law enforcement escorted Alejandro Martinez’s body from the hospital to the L.A. County Coroner’s Office. (OC Hawk)
A procession took place on July 29, 2023 as deputies and law enforcement escort Alejandro Martinez’s body from the hospital to the L.A. County’s Coroner’s Office in Boyle Heights. (KTLA)
Multiple people were struck by a vehicle in South Whittier, California, on Wednesday morning. (KTLA)
The scene of the crash where 25 cadets were injured in South Whittier on Nov. 16, 2022. (KTLA)
The suspect’s SUV after crashing into 25 LASD cadets as they were jogging in South Whittier on Nov. 16, 2022. (OC Hawk)
The scene of the crash where 25 cadets were injured in South Whittier on Nov. 16, 2022. (Francisco Silva)
Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez at the scene of Wednesday’s crash. Nov. 16, 2022. (KTLA)
22-year-old Nicholas Gutierrez seen here after crashing into law enforcement recruits on a training run Nov. 16, 2022
KTLA 5 reporter Mary Beth McDade tried to get answers from the driver accused of crashing into a large group of law enforcement recruits in South Whittier. Nov. 17, 2022.
Alejandro Martinez was among multiple L.A. County Sheriff Deputy recruits were struck by a vehicle in South Whittier, California, on Nov. 16, 2022. (Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)
The scene of the crash where 25 cadets were injured in South Whittier on Nov. 16, 2022. (KTLA)
The impact of a wrong-way crash that injured 25 law enforcement recruits in South Whittier on Nov. 16, 2022 was captured on video.
The crash scene in South Whittier where a wrong-way driver plowed into a group of law enforcement recruits. Nov. 16, 2022 (KTLA)
A procession took place on July 29, 2023 as deputies and law enforcement escort Alejandro Martinez’s body from the hospital to the L.A. County’s Coroner’s Office in Boyle Heights. (KTLA)
Alejandro Martinez was among multiple L.A. County Sheriff recruits were struck by a vehicle in South Whittier, California, on Nov. 16, 2022. (KTLA)
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“Alejandro has now gone to his eternal resting place,” the LASD said in a statement. “Tragically, he was not able to fulfill his calling of helping others. Our condolences go out to Alejandro’s family, friends, and academy classmates. 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.”
The sheriff has said investigators believe Gutierrez intentionally struck the recruits.
The suspect’s attorney claimed it was not an intentional act, saying her client fell asleep while driving to work as an electrician installing solar panels.
The attorney also said Gutierrez takes the same route every day and that he had no drugs or alcohol in his system.
KTLA’s legal analyst, Alison Triessl, spoke of the potential charges the suspect could face following Martinez’s death.
“I do not believe there is any chance that Mr. Gutierrez will not face some type of charges,” Triessl said. “I understand that his defense is that he fell asleep and if that’s the case, he still will be charged with some type of negligence because it is against the law to fall asleep while driving, driving the wrong way and hitting 25 people.”
Triessl believes there will be civil lawsuits filed in addition to Gutierrez’s criminal charges that could range anywhere from murder to vehicular manslaughter to reckless driving causing great bodily injury.
All but 10 of the recruits were from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, with some from the Bell, Glendale, Pasadena, El Segundo and UCLA police departments.
A procession took place late Friday night as deputies and law enforcement escorted Martinez’s body from the hospital to the L.A. County Coroner’s Office in Boyle Heights.
