Newly released dashcam footage shows a Los Angeles Police Department patrol vehicle fatally striking a skateboarder in Highland Park on September 19. The victim, identified as 32-year-old Gerardo Estrada, died after being hit by the responding cruiser, according to police officials.

The incident occurred around 7:15 p.m. as officers were en route to assist in setting up a perimeter for a suspect wanted on a felony warrant. LAPD Captain Mike Bland confirmed that the patrol car was responding to the call with urgency when the collision happened.

The footage, captured from the cruiser’s dashcam, shows Estrada crossing the street on his skateboard just moments before the vehicle approaches at speed. The impact, which appears sudden and unavoidable in the video, has sparked renewed questions about police pursuit safety and emergency driving standards in urban areas.

Paramedics arrived shortly after the crash, but Estrada succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The officers involved immediately reported the incident, and the Los Angeles Police Department has opened an internal investigation alongside the LAPD’s Multi-Disciplinary Collision Investigation Team. The case will also be reviewed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, as required by protocol for officer-involved fatalities.

While authorities have not released further details about the officers or their driving speed at the time of the crash, Captain Bland emphasized that “the investigation is ongoing” and that the department is cooperating fully with oversight agencies. The LAPD also expressed condolences to Estrada’s family.

The tragic incident underscores ongoing scrutiny of law enforcement driving policies in densely populated neighborhoods like Highland Park, where emergency responses can quickly turn dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. As the investigation continues, community members are calling for greater transparency and updated safety procedures for police vehicles operating in active residential zones.