SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KTVZ) — 25-year-old Lauren Craven, who graduated from Summit High School in Bend in 2019, was killed while in the line of duty Monday evening in San Diego-neighborhood Grantville.
According to our NBC News affiliate station, NBC 7 in San Diego, “As a car was traveling east on I-8, it hit another car, then overturned in the lanes and was struck by another car. A La Mesa police officer, who was on duty, saw the crash and got out of their car to render aid, when another car hit the officer, as well as the other cars. Then, a second car hit all of the vehicles, California Highway Patrol Cpt. Reggie Williams said. CHP confirmed two people are dead, including the officer and the person who initially crashed.”
NBC 7 also stated a total of five cars were involved and the other victims were transported to local hospitals.
The La Mesa Police Department said Craven joined the department in February of 2024.
“We ask that the La Mesa community keep Officer Craven, her family, and the La Mesa Police Department in their thoughts and prayers,” La Mesa Lt. Travis Higgins said in a release.
Claire Elmer is working on a full report on this tragic crash and its impact for KTVZ News on Fox at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
KTVZ News also would appreciate hearing from friends of Craven who can help us tell her story. You can reach Claire at claire.elmer@ktvz.com and the newsroom at stories@ktvz.com.