An Oxnard Police officer was struck and killed by a big rig just moments after completing his shift on Wednesday.
The NBC affiliate in Los Angeles reported on its website that 45-year-old Officer Nathan was leaving his work as a reserve officer at an area school at approximately 4:00 p.m. and was in the 1200 block of East Third Street in Oxnard. On his way from the school to his home in Camarillo is when his motorcycle collided with an 18-wheeler that was turning left.
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Officer Martin’s death has been devastating to fellow police officers with the Oxnard Police Department. This is the first death of its kind for the department since 1996. Oxnard Police Chief Scott Whitney said in a statement, “This is a terrible and dark day for everyone here in the city of Oxnard. He was a good man, and he’s going to be missed.”
To lose an officer to a similar tragic accident seemed all-too-familiar for the Chief of Police. Whitney himself faced a personal tragedy several years ago when his wife, a Sheriff’s deputy, was killed in an off-duty traffic accident.
Martin leaves behind a wife and three children. Chief Whitney told reporters that she was overcome with emotion when she saw the support of fellow Oxnard Police officers for her and their children. “We say we are a family,” Chief Whitney said, “This is how we show we’re a family.”
Students and faculty at Hueneme High School where Martin worked knew and loved the fallen officer and will likely take the news hard, Whitney said.
Martin joined the Oxnard Police Department as an officer in 1999. Martin’s older brother is also an officer with Oxnard Police.
The crash is still currently under investigation by both Oxnard Police and the California Highway Patrol.
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