Officer Spree Desha, 35, dies in Metrolink train *

The Los Angeles Police Department officer who died in the Chatsworth train collision was identified by the LAPD as Spree Desha, a seven-year veteran who worked in the Office of Operations. She was off-duty at the time of the crash. Desha, 35, has previously worked in the North Hollywood division. When her body was removed from the wreckage about 10:20 pm, dozen of officers from the LAPD and other agencies saluted her flag-draped body and observed a long moment of silence.

At the same briefing where the officer's name was released, Sheriff Lee Baca said that sheriff's deputy John Ebert was seriously injured on the train and is hospitalized in intensive care in Simi Valley.

"This is a human tragedy that is beyond words. A horrific night this evening," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said at the 11 pm briefing. He said that the number of confirmed deaths remains at ten and the number of injured is 135. The number of fatalities is expected to grow as recovery efforts continue, Villaraigosa said, but he cautioned that the firefighters on scene remain in rescue mode. "I couldn't be prouder of the first responders tonight," Villaraigosa said.

* 12:25 am update: "Officer Desha will be missed by all of us and especially by her colleagues in the Office of Operations," said Tim Sands, president of the Police Protective League, in a statement.

Earlier tonight: First news round-up, second news round-up, media scan, LAPD officer among the dead.

11:24 PM Friday, September 12 2008 • Link
More by tag: Accidents & disasters | Obituaries | Police beat
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