SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) – All eastbound lanes of I-8 in downtown San Diego reopened Tuesday afternoon after a series of crashes the night before killed a La Mesa police officer and another driver.
Authorities reported that shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Monday. near Fairmount Avenue in the eastbound lanes, a car struck another and overturned. A third car then hit the overturned car.
Contact us: Free TV streaming app | Newsletters | Mobile app | Latest stories
According to La Mesa police, Officer Lauren Craven was driving back into the city from the San Diego Central Jail and stopped to help before eventually exiting the freeway on foot.
California Highway Patrol Capt. Reggie Williams said a fourth vehicle struck Craven and the driver of the overturned vehicle, killing both.
“We have lost not only an officer, but a beloved daughter, sister, girlfriend, teammate and friend,” La Mesa Police Chief Ray Sweeney said at a news conference. “Lauren was easy going. Her positivity was direct and genuine. She led with compassion, courage and professionalism.”
According to officials, the driver of the overturned car was a 19-year-old. His name has not yet been released.
See real-time road conditions on FOX 5/KUSI’s live traffic map
“It’s a very tragic situation and very difficult for everyone involved,” Williams said. “My deepest condolences go out to the La Mesa Police Department, our fellow brothers and sisters in law enforcement, and the family and loved ones of the other individual tragically killed in this incident.”
At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Chief Sweeney spoke of Officer Craven’s true spirit and her passion for law enforcement and helping others.
“Lauren joined the La Mesa Police Department in February 2024,” said Chief Sweeney. “Before moving to San Diego, she spent most of her life in Oregon, where she developed a love of the outdoors and a habit of staying close to family and friends.
Lauren is survived by her mother Karen, her father David, her sister Margot and her partner Miles.
-
25-year-old Lauren Craven in 2024. in February joined the La Mesa Police Department and was assigned to the Patrol Division.
-
Flowers outside the entrance of the La Mesa Police Department the morning after a crash on I-8 killed Officer Lauren Craven and another person.
Chief Sweeney also talked about the recruitment of Officer Craven and her passion for the department.
Elder Sweeney said, “When she was hired, she wrote, ‘My passion has always been to serve others and I never doubted that being a law enforcement officer was what I was meant to do.’
Four more victims of the accident received medical attention, three of them were released. One person remained in the hospital Tuesday afternoon.
City Manager Greg Humora also offered his condolences at the conference and urged first responders to use the department’s mental health services to deal with the unexpected tragedy.
“This is an extremely difficult day for our close-knit community,” Humora said. “The La Mesa Police Department has a robust and comprehensive mental health wellness program. These resources, along with additional support, will continue to be available to our first responders in the coming days and weeks.”
“We want our officers, firefighters and all city employees to know that it’s okay to be sad and to seek help,” Humora continued.
Memorial service information will be posted soon.
Authorities are investigating whether drugs and/or alcohol were a factor in the crash. The California Highway Patrol is investigating.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, transcribed or distributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video, go to FOX 5 San Diego and KUSI news.