Lubbock Native Zachary Martinez Returns Home After Injuries in California Duty

Zachary Martinez, a 27-year-old native of Lubbock, is scheduled to return home following severe injuries he received while doing his duties as a police officer in San Diego. On August 27, Martinez and his partner, 30-year-old Austin Machitar, were responding to a pursuit when they were struck by a car. Sadly, Machitar passed away right there.

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Martinez is no longer receiving treatment at the San Diego hospital after several weeks. His plans changed on Sunday morning, and as of 10:55 PM, he is scheduled to land in Lubbock, Texas, on a Southwest Airlines flight, to be with his family and finish his recuperation.

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Martinez's commitment and intelligence were commended by Brinnen Kent, a former LPD Explorer Post teacher, who brought up their chat just one week prior to the crash. Martinez was a fierce rival who helped make the Explorer Program a success, according to Kent.

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Martinez participated in the Lubbock Police Department's Explorer Program from 2014 to 2015, after graduating from Coronado High School in 2015. He joined the Navy after graduating because he couldn't join the Lubbock Police Department until he turned 21 due to age restrictions. He eventually made his home in San Diego, where in March 2023 he enlisted in the San Diego Police Department.

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In addition to expressing his excitement for his future in law enforcement and his profound regard for his late comrade Machitar, Martinez also reflected on their friendship and the difficulties they had faced together.

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