Manhattan Beach motorcycle officer killed in freeway crash

A Manhattan Beach Police Department motorcycle officer was killed Wednesday in a multi-vehicle crash on the northbound San Diego (405) Freeway in the Carson area.

The crash was reported at about 5:15 a.m. at Del Amo Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Officer Chad Swanson, 35, a 13-year veteran, died at a hospital, the police department reported. According to MBPD Lt. Kelly Benjamin, Swanson was married with three young sons.

All northbound lanes were closed in the area while an investigation was conducted into the crash, which prompted a major backup of traffic on the heavily traveled freeway. The freeway remained blocked until about 3:50 p.m., according to Caltrans.

Manhattan Beach officials said Swanson was on his way to work when the crash occurred.

According to the CHP, the officer was in a crash that involved three other vehicles. The driver of one of those vehicles may have been speeding and made a possibly unsafe lane change, striking another vehicle that careened out of control, according to the CHP.

The officer’s motorcycle was struck by one of the vehicles, knocking him to the ground. He was taken to Harbor UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, where he was pronounced dead. One other person suffered minor injuries and was also taken to a hospital.

The other motorists remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, the CHP reported.

It was unclear which vehicle struck the officer.

Manhattan Beach Police Chief Rachel Johnson said Swanson joined the department 13 years ago and became a motorcycle officer in 2017. He previously worked as a civilian parking enforcement employee at the Hawthorne Police Department, Johnson said.

“Chad lived a life of service to the community,” the chief told reporters in a late-afternoon news conference. “His love for his work was evident each time I saw him. I last spoke with Chad on Sunday at the canine car show, and I watched as he lifted one kid after another kid onto his motorcycle to let them see what it was like to sit astride a police motor. He never tired of it. And I think he would have done it until sunset if that’s what it took to make every kid’s day.

“Chad was a bright star in a world that wasn’t always the same. Chad was what I refer to as a seriously good dude. His infectious smile and laugh lit up every room he entered. To know Chad was to love him. If you weren’t laughing when he was in the room, you simply weren’t listening.”

Johnson thanked the community and fellow law enforcement agencies for the outpouring of support that grew throughout the day. She said neighboring agencies lent the department officers to perform basic duties while Manhattan Beach officers grieved.

Manhattan Beach Mayor Richard Montgomery said in a statement the entire community was mourning “the loss of an officer who dedicated his career to ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents.”

“His fearless contributions to our community and beyond were marked by bravery, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to duty,” Montgomery said. 

“Our beloved officer exemplified courage, and his impact reached far beyond the precinct, touching the lives of those who had the privilege of working alongside him,” Johnson said in a statement. “His absence leaves an indelible void with our tight-knit law enforcement family and the community he served.”

Benjamin fought back tears as she spoke to reporters Wednesday morning about the officer’s death, saying he loved being a motorcycle officer.

“We’re hurting, we’re grieving,” Benjamin said.

She noted that Swanson was in the crowd at the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival in Las Vegas when a gunman opened fire on the event from a nearby hotel. Benjamin said Swanson was injured but still helped several concert-goers escape from the gunfire.

“The Manhattan Beach Police Department is working closely with the family to provide support and assistance in the face of this tragic loss,” the city said in a statement.

“In the wake of this loss, our local agency partners will be assisting the Manhattan Beach Police Department and ensuring the continuity of public safety services. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of the officer. We ask for respect and understanding during this period of grief and reflection,” the statement said.

Late Wednesday morning, Swanson’s body was escorted in a somber procession to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office downtown.

Updated Oct. 5, 2023, 11:34 a.m.

More from LA County