Full Notification

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Two sheriff's deputies were injured, including one who was hospitalized, after their patrol car was pushed off a 20 foot embankment onto a rocky Malibu shoreline.

Shortly before 1:00 A.M. Saturday, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies Millage and Miner completed a footbeat safety sweep of the nearby beach. They then returned to their patrol car parked on the south side shoulder in the 19400 block of Pacific Coast Highway near Las Tunas Canyon in Malibu.

The deputies entered their parked car and within moments, were struck from behind by a dark Grey BMW 550.

The impact launched the patrol car 20-25 feet down an adjacent embankment, with the deputies inside. It came to a complete upright rest on the rocky shoreline near the ocean below.

Firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Los Angeles City Fire Department, along with deputies from the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station deputies responded to the scene after the injured deputies used their sheriff's radio to call for assistance.

The deputies sat injured and trapped in their vehicle, while firefighters used hydraulic cutting tools to force open the doors of the patrol car as it sat pinned against the rocks. With the help of a fire rescue helicopter, firefighters carefully extracted the deputies and transported them to a local hospital for treatment.

One deputy suffered minor injuries to his upper body. He was subsequently treated and released within hours of the collision. The other deputy suffered more serious injuries and was hospitalized while he undergoes further medical evaluation.

"The deputies seatbelts saved them from being ejected from the patrol car onto the rocks, or to suffer even worse injuries," said Lieutenant Josh Thai, Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station. "They were injured and in pain. Luckily, the sand was level and it was low tide or they might have drowned."

The driver of the BMW that struck the patrol car, Suspect Mark Liebrecht, a 44-year old White male resident of Woodland Hills, was arrested at the scene by Malibu/Lost Hills sheriff's deputies and booked on felony charges of driving under the influence. He was treated at a local hospital for injuries he incurred when his car struck the patrol car. His bail is set at $100,000.00.

The sheriff's patrol car is believed to be a total loss.

Sergeant Stephanie Shrout
Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
(818) 878-1808
www.lasd.org


Forwarded by:
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Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
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Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

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To see KTLA-TV5 news video of the collision scene and rescue, visit the below website.

(Note: This link is provided for informational purposes. The LASD does not endorse products or services.)

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-2-deputies-hurt-in-malibu-crash,0,3806105.story

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