'Like a Gut Punch': Family of Crash-Injured Calif. Police Officer Speaks Out

By Caleb Lunetta

Source The San Diego Union-Tribune

For the parents of San Diego police Officer Zachary Martinez, receiving a call to their Texas home at 3 a.m. was terrifying.

“Ma’am … it’s your son, Zachary,” his mother was told. Her son had been in a terrible crash and was at a hospital fighting for his life, she was informed.

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“It was like a gut punch,” said Sabrina James, Martinez’s mother. “It’s one of those calls you don’t ever want to get.”

Martinez, 27, was on patrol with Officer Austin Machitar on Aug. 26 when their car was broadsided by a BMW sedan that was fleeing other officers in Clairemont. The crash killed Machitar and the suspect, 16-year-old Edgar Giovanny Oviedo, and left Martinez seriously injured.

During a sit-down interview with city spokesperson Jose Ysea that was released Tuesday, Martinez’s mother and father said their son still has a long way to go recovering from his injuries, but added that his progress so far has been good. Martinez suffered burns, a broken back and multiple facial injuries.

They said that when they first arrived at the hospital, all they could see of their son past the gauze and bandages were his eyes peeking out from behind a breathing tube. Sabrina said her son was confused and didn’t know who she was.

“I could not hold it together, I was very emotional,” she said.

Last week, Martinez was released in a wheelchair from the hospital to head home to his family and friends.

“He’s doing good, miraculously,” Sabrina said. “It’s been a long road for him, but we’ve been very thankful that he has pulled out like what he has.”

Since the crash, his father, Robbie James, said their hometown in Texas and the San Diego community have been supportive of their family.

Martinez grew up in Texas playing sports and participating in other outdoor activities before he came to San Diego as a Navy reservist and to train as an EMT, his mom said.

For the last year and a half, Martinez has been with the department and had Machitar as his training officer, Sabrina said. After completing his training, her son wanted to become Machitar’s partner.

“They did all kinds of stuff together, so they were really excited that they got to ride together,” Sabrina said. “It’s very hard for Zachary right now. He’s struggling with that because his best friend’s gone and he’s still here.”

Both officers’ families met for the first time following the crash, according to Martinez’s parents. The families realized they already knew a lot about each other’s sons from stories their children had told.

“It was a lot of tears, lots of stories, but it was very good,” Sabrina said. She later added: “We’ve vowed that we’re going to stay in touch with one another.”

“And we’re going to support them with all they need,” Robbie added.

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