Wednesday morning, a Manhattan Beach motorcycle officer, 35 years old, was killed in a collision on Carson’s 405 Freeway.
Officer Chad Swanson was slain in a four-vehicle collision on Del Amo Avenue that was reported at 5:15 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.
According to officials with the Manhattan Beach Police Department, he was struck on his way to work.
“At this time, it looks like a vehicle may have been traveling at an unsafe speed and possibly conducted an unsafe lane change,” CHP Lt. Steve Carapia said at a news conference, held on the side of the freeway that was shut down amid the investigation.
Carapia stated that it appeared the vehicle that changed lanes collided with another vehicle, which then struck Swanson, ejecting him from his motorcycle.
Shortly after the collision, AIR7 HD flew over the site where there was a large number of patrol vehicles.
Paramedics on the scene performed CPR on the cop before an ambulance escorted him to Harbor Medical Center. A second person was also transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
A parade of first responders eventually took his remains to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.
Officer Swanson had been with the department for more than 13 years. His wife, three young sons, and his parents survive him.
A motorcycle officer from Manhattan Beach was killed in a collision on the 405 Freeway on Wednesday morning, prompting the closure of all northbound lanes in Carson.
Sunday, according to Police Chief Rachel Johnson, was the last time she saw Swanson at a community event. She remarked that he clearly relished interacting with the community and children, particularly at the event, as he lifted one child after another to inspect his police motorcycle.
“To know Chad was to love him and if you weren’t laughing when he was in the room you simply weren’t listening,” the chief said.
Officials reported that Swanson attended the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas during the 2017 mass massacre. He was wounded by shrapnel but still managed to assist others in reaching safety.
An employee of the Manhattan Beach Police Department was slain in the mass shooting in Las Vegas on Sunday night, but an off-duty officer and two other employees of the agency survived.
“Many of you may not have known Chad personally, but you know of him… He personally was responsible for saving several lives and helping rescue victims out of that area,” Benjamin said.
The Highway Patrol reported that all other crash participants remained at the site and were cooperating with investigators.
In the interim, all traffic was diverted off the interstate at Avalon Boulevard. It was anticipated that the northbound lanes would remain closed until further notice.
