One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
CHP Officer Hit on 405 During Enforcement Stop Dies
Ortiz (via CHP)
Phillip Ortiz, the California Highway Patrol Officer injured while conducting an enforcement stop on the 405 Freeway June 9th, has died.Ortiz, 48, "succumbed to his injuries on June 22, 2010 at approximately 5:50 P.M.," explains a press release. He was a 28-year veteran of the CHP, and had been "a motor officer for over 20 years in the West Los Angeles Area."
The horrific accident on the 405 occurred when Ortiz was struck by the driver of a vehicle being driven on the right shoulder of the northbound I-405; Ortiz was conducting an enforcement stop at the time with an SUV. He was airlifted to the hospital, but sustained major injuries.
Ortiz leaves behind a wife, parents, and a large extended family. He is "the 218th CHP officer killed in the line of duty since the Department’s inception in 1929." The fatal accident remains under investigation.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
