Police Officer Involved In Funeral Procession Collision Has Died

One of the two police officers involved in a collision during a funeral procession for another officer died of his injuries Thursday, according to L.A. Now. Hawthorne Officer Andrew Garton, 44, died while being treated at Harbor UCLA Medical Center. He had been riding on his motorcycle as part of the procession for Manhattan Beach's Officer Mark Vasquez, who died of cancer.

Garton's family had been flown to the hospital to be by his side. His passing "stunned and saddened fellow officers and officials in the tight-knit South Bay city," notes L.A. Now.

During the procession, Garton collided with El Segundo Police Department Sgt. Rex Fowler, and was thrown into oncoming traffic. Fowler was listed in stable condition last night.

Garton worked over seven years with the Hawthorne PD, including the last four as a motorcycle officer. Colleagues and Hawthorne officials remember the father of two as being well-liked and a fine officer.

Hawthorne PD says they are currently arranging an account, for which donations to Officer Garton’s family can be made. Finalization of this account is pending, and information will be publicized as soon as it is established.