An off-duty Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer was killed on November 4, 2023 in a high-speed collision in Northridge, Los Angeles, California.
The fatal incident occurred when a 20-year-old drunk driver, identified as Brian David Oliveri, ran a red light and struck Darrell Cunningham’s white Infiniti.
According to the authorities, Oliveri was traveling at speeds up to 100 miles per hour in a black BMW when he crashed into the car driven by Officer Cunningham. The impact was immediate and lethal, resulting in the on-scene fatality of Cunningham and his front-seat passenger. An off-duty San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputy, who was a passenger in Cunningham’s vehicle, survived the crash with injuries.
Details of the incident indicate that Oliveri and a passenger in his car were hospitalized, Oliveri in critical condition, following the collision and that Oliveri will face charges of gross vehicular manslaughter.
Further updates disclosed that the collision took place at about 1:15 AM at the intersection of Roscoe Boulevard and Lindley Avenue in Los Angeles.
Cunningham, a five-year veteran of the LAPD assigned to the West Los Angeles Station, is survived by his fiance and two young sons, ages six and three. The community and his colleagues have begun paying their respects, with flowers and tributes left at the crash site.
LAPD Chief Michel R. Moore publicly announced the loss of Officer Cunningham at a press conference, where he extended his deepest condolences to the officer’s family, friends, and fellow officers from the West Los Angeles Area.
As the investigation continues, Chief Moore confirmed that Oliveri was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter.
As the legal proceedings against Oliveri continue, the focus remains on providing support to the bereaved family and ensuring that justice is served in the wake of the calamity.
The crash remains under active investigation, and more details are expected to be released as they become available. The LAPD has not disclosed any further information about the second passenger who perished in the crash, or the condition of the surviving injured passenger.
Officer Cunningham’s dedication to public service and the profound loss felt by his family, friends, and colleagues remain at the forefront of this ongoing story.
