CA police officer and passenger killed in suspected DUI collision

An off-duty California police officer and his passenger were fatally struck by a suspected drunk driver. A deputy sheriff who was a passenger was also injured in the crash.

An off-duty Los Angeles police officer and one of his passengers were killed in a collision early Saturday morning involving a man suspected of drunken driving, authorities said.

Officer Darrell Cunningham and another person riding with Cunningham were killed after a 20-year-old man, driving at more than 100 miles per hour, failed to stop at a red light and struck the car, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore said at a press conference.

An off-duty San Bernardino County deputy sheriff, another passenger in the car with Cunningham, was injured in the crash.

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Moore said details police know about the crash are "preliminary," but he called the incident a "senseless tragedy."

"Darrell had just under five years on the job. He worked as recently as two nights ago. He’s described as hard-working, honest, a person you can go to get the job done with a great attitude," Moore said. "As a department, we’re grieving today."

The collision happened at about 1:15 a.m. Saturday in Los Angeles' Northridge neighborhood, Moore said. Authorities did not identify the second person killed in the crash by midday Saturday, saying they were waiting to notify family members.

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The driver who authorities said hit Cunningham's vehicle was in critical condition Saturday at a nearby hospital, Moore said. Los Angeles police said he would be booked for gross vehicular manslaughter.