Northridge Violent Crash Kills Off-Duty LAPD Officer, Passenger; Off-Duty Deputy Injured Along With 2 Others

NORTHRIDGE, LOS ANGELES, Nov. 4 (KNN) — An off-duty Los Angeles Police Department officer along with one of two passengers in his vehicle, were both killed in a traffic collision involving a suspected drunk driver early Saturday morning, according to the LAPD. Based on the preliminary investigation, the driver will be booked on gross vehicular manslaughter and further charges as additional evidence is gathered.

The LAPD identified Police Officer II Darrell D. Cunningham of the West Los Angeles area station as one of the deceased victims. The passenger was not immediately identified pending notification of next of kin, and the other passenger was transported to a local hospital with “significant injuries.”

The suspected drunk driver was also injured and is in police custody, reported the LAPD.

The fatal traffic collision occurred at approximately 1:15 a.m. on the 18000 block of West Roscoe Boulevard at Lindley Avenue in Northridge.

According to initial information from the LAPD, off-duty Officer Cunningham was driving with two passengers in his vehicle when they were struck by a speeding car traveling in excess of 100 mph at the time of the collision.

LAPD Chief Moore said at a press conference Saturday afternoon, that based on information they have right now, they believe Officer Cunningham was driving northbound on Lindley Avenue with two other occupants in his white Infiniti as he approached Roscoe Boulevard. The driver of the second vehicle –identified as 20-year-old Brian David Oliveri in a black 4-door BMW – failed to stop at the red tri-light signal at the intersection, striking the passenger side of Officer Cunningham’s white Infiniti, and killing Cunningham and the right front passenger also in the vehicle.

Moore said the rear passenger in Cunningham’s vehicle injured in the collision is an off-duty San Bernardino Deputy Sheriff.

In the aftermath of the collision, the female passenger in the black BMW was able to exit the vehicle on her own.

“All others were trapped because of the force and level of damage created by this horrific collision,” said Moore.

Responding Los Angeles Fire Department personnel utilized the Jaws of Life and other equipment to rescue the lone survivor of Officer Cunningham’s vehicle as well as the driver of the black BMW, Moore reported.

All injured parties are currently hospitalized suffering a range of injuries including Oliveri in critical condition and unconscious, the off-duty deputy with a broken hip and other serious injuries and the female passenger with survivable serious injuries, according to Moore.

Cunningham had just under five years on the job and worked as recently as two nights ago. He was described by Moore as “hard-working, honest, a person you could go to, to get the job done with a great attitude.”

Cunningham is survived by two young sons, ages 3 and 6, a fiancée, a mother and two other brothers.

Chief Moore is asking anyone who may have witnessed this collision to please reach out to the police department.

Zak Holman, Video Journalist / KNN