A five-year veteran officer with the Los Angeles Police Department tragically lost his life in a high-speed collision in Northridge, California on November 4th, 2023. 

Darrell Cunningham was off-duty when the fatal incident occurred at approximately 1:15 AM at the intersection of Roscoe Boulevard and Lindley Avenue in Los Angeles. 

According to authorities, a 21-year-old drunk driver identified as Brian David Oliveri was speeding over one hundred miles per hour in a black BMW when he ran a red light and struck Cunningham’s white Infiniti. The impact immediately killed Cunningham and his front-seat passenger. A back-seat passenger, an off-duty San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputy, survived the crash with injuries. Oliveri and his passenger were hospitalized after the collision, with Oliveri listed in critical condition. He now faces charges of gross vehicular manslaughter. 

Chief Michel R. Moore of the LAPD publicly announced the loss of Officer Cunningham at a press conference, where he extended his deepest condolences to Cunningham’s fiancé and their two young sons, aged six and three years old. 

Cunningham was assigned to the West Los Angeles Station and dedicated five years of service to protecting his community. 

The local community and Cunningham’s colleagues have begun paying their respects by leaving flowers and tributes at the crash site. 

As the legal proceedings against Oliveri continue, the focus remains on providing support to Cunningham’s bereaved family and ensuring that justice is served following this tragic event. 

The crash remains under active investigation.