LAPD officer killed when patrol car hit by SUV

LOS ANGELES, May 4 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Police Department officer Roberto Sanchez died Saturday after his patrol car was broadsided by an SUV.

His partner, whose name wasn't reported, was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in critical but stable condition.

The officers were making a U-turn to follow another car moving at high speed when the SUV broadsided them near the intersection of Senator Avenue and Anaheim Street, LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith said.

The driver of the SUV fled the scene on foot.

Sanchez is the third LAPD officer to die this year in a traffic accident. In March, one officer was killed in a crash in Beverly Hills and in April, a motorcycle officer died after he was hit by an alleged drunk driver.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck took to Twitter to express his grief over the loss.

We shall never forget Police Officer Roberto Sanchez. #LAPD hero who gave his life in the name of serving others #RIP pic.twitter.com/oZG0NmMveI

— Chief Charlie Beck (@LAPDChiefBeck) May 3, 2014

Also pray for the recovery of #LAPD Ofcr Sanchez' partner/best friend. He was also seriously injured in the collision pic.twitter.com/i644bBM8pK

— Earl C. Paysinger (@LAPDPaysinger) May 3, 2014