Police Officer Blamed in Crash That Killed Rossmoor Colleague

A fellow police officer was largely at fault in the death of an officer from Rossmoor last year when their motorcycles collided during the funeral procession of a fellow police officer.

As the Daily Breeze reports, an El Segundo Police officer is primarily responsible for the accident that killed Andrew Garton, a Hawthorne police officer from Rossmoor. However, according to the report, Garton bears some of the responsibility because he was speeding. No charges have been filed in the case, but Garton’s widow is suing the cities of El Segundo and Manhattan Beach as a result of the accident.

Garton, who was 44 when he died, left behind his wife, Tracy, and young sons Grant and Garrett.

Garton was the first Hawthorne officer killed in the line of duty in the department's 89-year history, Chief Robert Fager said.

Garton and Sgt. Rex Fowler were escorting a funeral procession for Manhattan Beach police Officer Mark Vasquez, 36, who died of cancer. The pair were handling traffic control using a technique known as leapfrogging, blocking vehicles at alternating intersections. As the motorcade passes the last officer, he races to the front of the procession to block the next intersection. The accident left Fowler with a broken leg.

Read the Full Daily Breeze article here.