San Diego

Procession Held for Fallen SDPD Couple Killed in Wrong-Way Collision

The pair was traveling southbound on I-5 last week in San Ysidro when a wrong-way driver heading northbound on the lanes collided into the detectives head-on

NBCUniversal Media, LLC

Dozens of officers lined up outside a San Diego mortuary on Tuesday to pay their respects to two fallen comrades – a husband and wife duo on the force who was killed last week by a wrong-way driver.

Dozens of officers lined up outside a San Diego mortuary on Tuesday to pay their respects to two fallen comrades – a husband and wife duo on the force who was killed last week by a wrong-way driver.

Jamie Huntley-Park, 33, and Ryan Park 32, both detectives with the San Diego Police Department, were honored in a procession for their untimely deaths. A police escort guided two hearses carrying the bodies of the deceased to an area mortuary as they were greeted by several police officers at the site saluting the fallen upon their arrival.

The couple, who had a day off but may have been doing background work on a case, was traveling southbound on Interstate 5 Friday morning when a wrong-way driver traveled north on the freeway and collided head-on into their vehicle, authorities said. The detectives and other driver involved in the crash died at the scene.

"[They were] incredible people who had nothing but the world and life ahead of them," SDPD Chief David Nisleit said. "It’s just tragic. Any time a life is lost it’s tragic, but to lose two detectives in a traffic accident, it’s a call a chief never wants to get.”

SDPD MEDIA SERVICES
NBC 7
Police officers lead the way to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office on June 4, 2021 in a procession for two SDPD officers killed in a head-on collision in San Ysidro.
NBC 7
A procession for fallen SDPD Detectives Jamie Huntley-Park and Ryan Park is held on Friday, June 7, 2021.
A procession for fallen SDPD Detectives Jamie Huntley-Park and Ryan Park is held on Friday, June 7, 2021 as a van carries their bodies to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.
NBC 7
Police officers pay respects on June 4, 2021 in a procession for two fellow SDPD officers who were killed in a collision in San Ysidro.
NBC 7
The procession approaches the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.
NBC 7
A van carrying the bodies of SDPD Detectives Ryan Park and Jamie Huntley-Park approaches the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office.
NBC 7
The procession arrives at the Medical Examiner’s Office.
NBC 7
A vigil is held to honor San Diego Police Department Detectives Ryan Park and Jamie Huntley-Park.
NBC 7
San Diego police officers pay their respects to their fallen comrades in a remembrance.
NBC 7
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria comforts a loved one of SDPD Detectives Jamie Huntley-Park and Ryan Park at a vigil for them.
NBC 7
Various flowers were placed in honor of the fallen SDPD detectives.
NBC 7
Supportive community members show up at a vigil to pay their respects to the fallen SDPD detectives.
NBC 7
Members of the San Diego Angels girls hockey team that Jamie Huntley-Park coached were also among those in attendance at the vigil.
NBC 7
Signs of appreciation for Ryan Park and Jamie Huntley-Park express love to the fallen SDPD members.
NBC 7
Blue ribbons are tied to trees to honor the two SDPD detectives who died in a crash.

Park was a homicide detective while Huntley-Park was a detective with the department’s Southern Division. Nisleit said the duo met in 2012 during their time in the police academy and married in early 2016. They did not have any children but had recently adopted a small dog, according to their family.

Vigils over the weekend were held in the detectives’ honor as community members mourned the two.

Huntley-Park was described as a successful hockey player, referee and coach. Nisleit said she had even refereed Olympic trial games. Park, meanwhile, was known to join running events the department participated in.

The couple had lived in Escondido’s Harmony Grove Village community, where their loved ones received an outpour of support and love with a somber remembrance over the weekend.

"They live in our neighborhood and we want to let them know they are remembered and a big part of this community and that they were loved, and we appreciate what they did," said Gabriella Reichel, a neighbor to the couple.

Exit mobile version