Officer Who Survived 2017 Las Vegas Mass Shooting Dies in Crash, Leaving Behind Wife and 3 Kids
Officer Chad Swanson, who was wounded in the concert massacre, said at the time that he "wanted to try to help as many people" as he could
Manhattan Beach Police Department
Chad Swanson.A California police officer who was wounded in the 2017 Las Vegas music festival mass shooting died after a car struck his police motorcycle, authorities said.
The crash happened on Monday around 5:14 a.m. on Interstate 405 and killed Manhattan Beach Police Department Motorcycle Officer Chad Swanson, the California Highway Patrol said in a release obtained by PEOPLE.
The agency said Swanson was likely headed to work on the northbound 405 Freeway near the Del Amo Boulevard on the edge of Carson when the multi-vehicle crash unfolded, The Daily Breeze and CW affiliate KTLA-TV reported.
A driver of one car apparently hit another car and that car appeared to lose control and crash into Swanson, according to the The Daily Breeze.
"It looks like a vehicle may have been traveling at an unsafe speed and possibly conducted an unsafe lane change,” CHP Lt. Steve Carapia said, per KTLA-TV. “Unfortunately, the officer was struck and ejected off of his motorbike."
The Manhattan Beach Police Department said Swanson, a 13-year veteran of the force, was married and had three young sons, 4, 2 and 10 months.
Swanson was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the California Highway Patrol. A second person was hospitalized with minor injuries.
All of the drivers stayed at the scene, Carapia added, per The Daily Breeze. No arrests have been made at this time, and an investigation is ongoing, per CHP.
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The Manhattan Beach Police Department remembered Swanson as having a "strong sense of duty, professionalism, and a genuine desire to make the community safer."
"He was not only a colleague, but also a friend to many, and his absence will be deeply felt," they added.
The officer was also hailed as a hero for getting people to safety after a gunman opened fire from a window of the Mandalay Bay hotel during the Route 91 Music Festival, Manhattan Beach Police Lieutenant Kelly Benjamin said, per The Daily Breeze.
Related: Officer Saves Baby Who 'Was Not Breathing' After Seeing Car Run Red Light: 'He’s a Hero,' Says Dad
According to the paper, Swanson was struck in the arm by a fragment of a bullet that hit the ground during the shooting, then ran back and forth to help victims and apply tourniquets. He said at the time that he "just wanted to try to help as many people" as he could.
The mass shooting claimed 58 innocent lives, with an additional victim dying two years after the attack.
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Manhattan Beach Police Chief Rachel Johnson said in a statement that "the beloved officer exemplified courage, and his impact reached far beyond the precinct, touching the lives of those who had the privilege of working alongside him."
Meanwhile, a fundraiser asking to support Swanson's family "through this devastating time and the future" has raised over $63,000 as of Thursday morning.
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