MRS FLYIN VEE
07-29-2007, 08:07 PM
Two Valley LAPD cops killed in separate crashes
Daily News
Article Last Updated: 07/29/2007 06:37:27 PM PDT
Click photo to enlargeLAPD Detective George Selleh of Simi Valley was killed while driving his motorcycle on the 101...«1»
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In a tragic day on the highways for San Fernando Valley police officers, two members of the LAPD were killed today in unrelated crashes a few miles and hours apart, with the first wreck causing a major traffic backup.
About 3:30 a.m., George Selleh, 52, of Simi Valley, who worked out of the Mission Division as a narcotics detective, collided with a disabled vehicle on the 101 Freeway near Highland Avenue.
About seven hours later, a car was found in some landscaping off the 101 near Sepulveda Boulevard.
Police initially reported that a dead body was discovered inside. Hours later, the Los Angeles Police Department said it was one of their officers, whose name has not been released.
"This is a tremendous loss for all of us," said LAPD Deputy Chief Michel Moore, the Valley's highest-ranking cop.
Neither officer was on duty at the time of the crashes. Selleh, a 29-year LAPD veteran, was on his way to a side job working security for a movie set at Fifth and Hill streets downtown when his motorcycle collided with the disabled car in the center divider.
At least 10 other cars swerved to try to avoid the same disabled car, causing a wreck that has taken hours to investigate. No other major injuries were reported.
The
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101 remains closed at Highland, but CHP officials said they expected to open all lanes by 5 p.m.
Traffic on the southbound side is backed up 15 miles to Reseda Boulevard, with the herd inching along at 4 mph, said CHP Officer Patrick Kimball.
"This is significantly worse than typical Los Angeles traffic," he said.
Selleh, who died at the scene of the crash, is survived by his wife and two children, 20 and 18. His family declined to comment.
At the Mission Division station, counselors and clergy members were on hand to console distraught officers, Moore said. He described Selleh as a quiet character.
"He was one of the linchpins, the go-to guys. He was an absolute professional," Moore said. "He has a long history of working in the Valley. He was well-known to many officers. He was well-respected."
Selleh's supervisor, Capt. William Scott, released the following statement: "It is always difficult when we lose one of our own. The men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department are deeply saddened and our hearts and prayers go out to Detective Selleh's family and his many friends."
It's unclear when the second crash occurred, but the car was discovered in thick landscaping off the eastbound 101 where the southbound San Diego (405) Freeway merges in the fast lane.
The car had gone off the roadway at some point in an apparent solo vehicle crash.
LAPD Officer Karen Smith, a department spokeswoman, would not confirm which division the officer worked for, but said it was in the Valley.
She said the officer's name would be released this evening, pending notification of relatives.
Daily News
Article Last Updated: 07/29/2007 06:37:27 PM PDT
Click photo to enlargeLAPD Detective George Selleh of Simi Valley was killed while driving his motorcycle on the 101...«1»
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAP: Fatal freeway crashes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a tragic day on the highways for San Fernando Valley police officers, two members of the LAPD were killed today in unrelated crashes a few miles and hours apart, with the first wreck causing a major traffic backup.
About 3:30 a.m., George Selleh, 52, of Simi Valley, who worked out of the Mission Division as a narcotics detective, collided with a disabled vehicle on the 101 Freeway near Highland Avenue.
About seven hours later, a car was found in some landscaping off the 101 near Sepulveda Boulevard.
Police initially reported that a dead body was discovered inside. Hours later, the Los Angeles Police Department said it was one of their officers, whose name has not been released.
"This is a tremendous loss for all of us," said LAPD Deputy Chief Michel Moore, the Valley's highest-ranking cop.
Neither officer was on duty at the time of the crashes. Selleh, a 29-year LAPD veteran, was on his way to a side job working security for a movie set at Fifth and Hill streets downtown when his motorcycle collided with the disabled car in the center divider.
At least 10 other cars swerved to try to avoid the same disabled car, causing a wreck that has taken hours to investigate. No other major injuries were reported.
The
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101 remains closed at Highland, but CHP officials said they expected to open all lanes by 5 p.m.
Traffic on the southbound side is backed up 15 miles to Reseda Boulevard, with the herd inching along at 4 mph, said CHP Officer Patrick Kimball.
"This is significantly worse than typical Los Angeles traffic," he said.
Selleh, who died at the scene of the crash, is survived by his wife and two children, 20 and 18. His family declined to comment.
At the Mission Division station, counselors and clergy members were on hand to console distraught officers, Moore said. He described Selleh as a quiet character.
"He was one of the linchpins, the go-to guys. He was an absolute professional," Moore said. "He has a long history of working in the Valley. He was well-known to many officers. He was well-respected."
Selleh's supervisor, Capt. William Scott, released the following statement: "It is always difficult when we lose one of our own. The men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department are deeply saddened and our hearts and prayers go out to Detective Selleh's family and his many friends."
It's unclear when the second crash occurred, but the car was discovered in thick landscaping off the eastbound 101 where the southbound San Diego (405) Freeway merges in the fast lane.
The car had gone off the roadway at some point in an apparent solo vehicle crash.
LAPD Officer Karen Smith, a department spokeswoman, would not confirm which division the officer worked for, but said it was in the Valley.
She said the officer's name would be released this evening, pending notification of relatives.