A cadet of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who was hit by an SUV while on a training run last Wednesday is now battling for his life.
According to the LA County Sheriff’s Department, Alejandro Martinez’s condition has deteriorated and he is now listed as being in a “grave” state.
The department issued a press release on Sunday afternoon stating that Martinez’s condition deteriorated and requesting prayers for him and his family.
Martinez was one of 25 sheriff’s trainees on a training run in southern California when they were ‘deliberately’ struck by an SUV driven by Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez, 22.
The sheriff’s office said that three other cadets hospitalized following the crash remained in critical condition.
Authorities requested extra time to gather evidence before presenting it to the District Attorney’s office, and Gutierrez was freed on Thursday night.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva of Los Angeles County stated that the suspect had been “provisionally” freed, but that detectives had “established reasonable grounds to think it was purposeful.”
Investigators think it was purposeful based on ‘extensive interviews with all parties involved, video footage, recruits’ comments, physical evidence, and information obtained from the suspect himself,’ he added.
Gutierrez was apprehended at the site of the horrible incident on Mills Avenue in Whittier on Wednesday morning, when 25 recruits sustained injuries including head trauma, shattered bones, and ‘loss of limb,’ with at least five sustaining life-threatening injuries.
Nicholas Joseph Gutierrez, 22, was released from jail after being charged with attempted murder because investigators need more time to collect evidence.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva of Los Angeles County stated that he was ‘provisionally’ freed, but that detectives had’reasonable basis to suspect it was purposeful’
The LA County Sheriff’s Department sent out a tweet on Sunday afternoon.
Following the Wednesday morning incident in Whittier, 25 trainees sustained injuries including head trauma, shattered bones, and ‘loss of limb,’ with five suffering serious injuries.
Deputy Deanna Mares told CNN, “It’s not as if they arrested the incorrect individual.” They simply want to ensure that the inquiry will be exhaustive.
Due to the exceptional complexity of the investigation, which included continuous interviews, video surveillance review, and other material to be evaluated, Mr. Gutierrez was released from the custody of the Sheriff’s Department, according to an official statement.
New surveillance footage depicting the moment the motorist plowed into the group led to his release.
The graphic footage acquired by ABC7 moments before the collision shows the recruits in white t-shirts jogging in formation in the vicinity of Mills Road and Telegraph Road with two patrol cars in pursuit.
On a quiet neighborhood where there appears to be no traffic, a Honda SUV suddenly approaches and rams into a group of recruits without clearly slowing down.
Villanueva had stated that the 22-year-old motorist may have accelerated just before the accident. According to reports, he blew a 0.0 on a field sobriety test and was held at the spot.
The sheriff told ABCY that several recruits claim to have heard the automobile speeding at speeds between 30 and 40 mph. “It’s evident how little reaction time that provides”
Thursday, Gutierrez’s attorney, Alexandra Kazarian, told KABC that she had “no doubt that an in-depth investigation will reveal that Nicholas is a hardworking young guy with no hostility against police enforcement, and that this was a horrible accident.”
The SUV plowed through the gathering and then collided with a streetlight post, preventing it from striking other recruits.
“It happened so rapidly that only those who saw it swerve into them were able to avoid it, but others behind them had no chance since they never saw it,” Villanueva explained.
They were not given adequate warning. As soon as the tragedy occurred, the mayhem that ensued was compared to an airplane crash since there were so many bodies spread about in various levels of injury.
New footage captures the horrific moment a wrong-way motorist plowed into a group of police enforcement trainees in southern California during a training run.
The film begins with the recruits wearing white t-shirts and running in formation in the vicinity of Mills Road and Telegraph Road, followed by two patrol cars.
A Honda SUV arrives out of nowhere and rams into the gathering of recruits without any apparent attempt to slow down. On the street were strewn corpses and trash.
Nearly seventy-five recruits were reportedly on a morning run in Whittier at 6:25 a.m. when a motorist crashed into their training unit.
Although the driver did not have any alcohol in his system, marijuana was discovered in his vehicle.
It is unknown if he was intoxicated at the time of the Wednesday early collision, although he reportedly informed responding officers that he was drowsy.
At one of the news conferences, Sheriff Villanueva stated, “It resembled an airplane crash because there were so many dead spread everywhere.” He said that all of the injuries were “survivable” but might be “life-changing.”
A number of hospitals, notably St. Francis Medical Center and LAC+USC Medical Center, received patients.
When the 22-year-old driver of a gray SUV collided with a pole, the vehicle was a twisted wreck.
Authorities said the vehicle was heading in the incorrect direction when he struck a group of recruits.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva speculated that the 22-year-old motorist accelerated just prior to the crash. According to reports, he blew a 0.0 on a sobriety test but was detained at the site.
The Sheriff’s Training Academy and Regional Services Center is located approximately a mile and a half from the collision site, as reported by FOX 11.
The party was accompanied by drill sergeants, two black-and-white radio cars serving as safety vehicles, and eight road guards. Everyone was wearing a high-visibility vest.
Firefighters from adjacent Station 96 were the first to arrive to the scene after hearing a loud noise outside, where they discovered a smashed Honda.
The Los Angeles Police Department stated in a statement, ‘Our prayers are with anyone affected by this morning’s events with the Sheriff’s Recruits.
As we await more updates on their statuses, we wish everyone a speedy recovery.
The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, also released a statement: ‘Our thoughts are with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s cadets who were hurt this morning while serving their communities.
Jennifer and I wish them a speedy recovery and stand with their families and coworkers at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at this tough time.
Pictured are authorities at the scene taking a bloodied victim to an ambulance.
Others were transferred to local hospitals after receiving treatment at the spot.