**California Officer Killed in Line of Duty While Assisting Crash Victims on Interstate 8**
*By Katherine Mosack | 4:11 PM Thursday, October 23, 2025*
A California police officer lost her life this week while performing her duty, stopping to help victims of a collision on Interstate 8 in San Diego.
Officer Lauren Craven, 25, of La Mesa, was fatally struck by a car on Sunday, October 20th. She had just celebrated her 25th birthday earlier this month on October 7th.
The La Mesa Police Department mourns its first line-of-duty death with the loss of Officer Craven, who joined the department in February of last year and served in the Patrol Division.
### The Incident
Late Monday night, after 10 p.m., Officer Craven was driving back from the San Diego Central Jail when she came across a multi-vehicle rollover crash on the 8 Freeway, northeast of San Diego and just west of La Mesa.
Tragically, while assisting victims at the scene, an oncoming vehicle struck and killed her.
The driver of the overturned vehicle Officer Craven was assisting, 19-year-old De’Veonte Morris, also lost his life in the incident, according to his family as reported by NBC 7 San Diego.
The crash involved a total of five vehicles, with the initial collision causing a chain reaction. Several others were injured, and at least one victim was hospitalized. Specific details about the number and severity of injuries have not been publicly released.
### Department and Community Response
“This is a very tragic situation, and it’s very difficult for all involved,” said La Mesa Police Department Chief Ray Sweeney during a news conference. “My heartfelt condolences are with the La Mesa Police Department, our fellow brothers and sisters in law enforcement, as well as with the family and loved ones of the other individual who tragically lost their life in this incident.”
The La Mesa Police Department posted on Facebook, “Officer Craven’s actions, in her final moments, exemplified her unwavering dedication to service and the safety of others—a reflection of how she lived every day. Officer Craven was known for her tenacity, courage, and compassion—qualities that inspired her peers and strengthened her community.”
San Diego Sheriff Kelly Martinez’s office posted on X, “Officer Craven’s bravery and dedication to serving others exemplify the highest values of law enforcement. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and the entire La Mesa Police Department as they navigate through this heartbreaking loss.”
Several law enforcement agencies across the state have expressed their condolences, including the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, the San Francisco Police Department, the Pasadena Police Department, and the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office.
### Officer Craven’s Motivation
Her father, David Craven, told ABC 10 San Diego that Lauren was inspired to pursue law enforcement after she was “traumatically assaulted in college” and received compassion from a detective.
“Lauren thought so much of the difference between those two that she said right then and there, ‘I want to dedicate my life to being that good cop for anybody who needs me,’” he shared.
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