A San Diego police officer who was critically injured in a fiery wreck that killed another officer has been released from a hospital, a week after the crash with a speeding driver who had been briefly pursued.

Officer Zach Martinez was released Tuesday. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said he has a long road to recovery but that Martinez and everyone in the department is grateful.

“Today is nothing short of a miracle,” Wahl said.

Killed in the crash was Officer Austin Machitar, who was driving the police vehicle that the two officers were in.

Also killed was the 16-year-old driver of the speeding car who had been briefly chased, which was the reason Machitar and Martinez were responding to the area, officials have said.

Martinez, a 27-year-old EMT and member of the Navy Reserves who has been with the police department for 1½ years, had been described as fighting for his life after the crash on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.

“The first officer that responded to him was also an EMT, and in his words, he thought he was dead,” Wahl said. “He said he tested for his pulse and was surprised when he found one.”

The crash occurred on Aug. 26 at around 11:30 p.m. after a different officer saw the teen driver speeding and tried to conduct a traffic stop, police have said.

The driver sped away and was chased before a supervisor called off the pursuit due to the dangerous speeds, Wahl said last week.

Machitar and Martinez were responding to that call when the driver crashed into them from the side, Wahl said.

Martinez suffered burns, a broken neck and multiple facial injuries, said Dr. Diane Wintz, trauma medical director at Sharp Memorial Hospital. There was no paralysis with the neck injury, she said.

The circumstances of the crash and exactly what occurred are under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

Wahl said that based on preliminary information, the time between the attempted traffic stop, brief pursuit and point of impact “is going to be very short. We’re talking 20, 30 seconds.”

Wahl said he spoke with Martinez before a news conference Tuesday announcing that he would be released, and that Martinez asked that the nurses and doctors be recognized for care that was “nothing short of amazing.”

“He’s very grateful, and he appreciates all of the prayers,” Wahl said.

Jurickson Profar and his 7-year-old son, Khairy, shared a special moment at Petco Park on Monday.

Khairy got to throw out the ceremonial first pitch to Jurickson ahead of the Padres’ 3-0 win over the Detroit Tigers in San Diego. And the younger Profar dazzled with a perfect strike to dad.

How’s that for a father-son experience?

The moment came during what’s been a special season for the Padres outfielder. Profar, 31, is enjoying the best year of his career in 2024, hitting .280/.382/.459 with 21 homers and 81 RBIs.

Profar played in his first All-Star Game in July, less than a year after being released by the Colorado Rockies. And before receiving the All-Star nod, Profar spoke about how much the honor would mean to Khairy.

“I don’t care about the individual stuff. I really don’t. But for my son? It would just mean everything,” Profar said, via MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell.

“One of my dreams since he was born was to be at an All-Star Game,” Profar added. “He loves baseball so much. He’s always watching the Home Run Derby while I’m like, ‘Nah, I don’t want to watch baseball during the All-Star break.’ But he wants to watch it. He’s always talking about baseball. So, that’s why it would mean a lot.”

The National Weather Service (NWS) has advised people not to drink alcohol as extreme heat hits San Diego.

This comes as excessive heat warnings have been issued for various regions across Southern California, Arizona and Nevada, effective from 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 4, to 8 p.m. on Friday, September 6. Affected regions include Orange County, the Inland Empire, Coachella Valley and San Diego County, as well as various mountain ranges.

The NWS advised that extreme heat events increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, warning people to take precautionary actions, including “drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.”

The Coachella Valley and San Diego County deserts are among the hardest-hit areas, where temperatures could soar to between 112 and 118 degrees Fahrenheit, with nighttime lows only dropping to the 80s or 90s.

San Bernardino County Valley, the Riverside County valleys and parts of the Inland Empire could see temperatures ranging from 102 to 112 degrees.

The NWS has advised against consuming alcohol in the period of extreme heat. It said: “Alcohol can dehydrate the body and impair the ability to regulate temperature, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.”

“It’s recommended to avoid alcoholic beverages and instead focus on drinking plenty of water or other non-alcoholic, hydrating fluids to maintain proper hydration and support the body’s ability to cope with the intense heat.”

The heat wave is also expected to impact urban areas, such as Las Vegas and Phoenix, where temperatures may reach up to 117 degrees.

These extreme heat conditions are expected to increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, particularly for vulnerable populations.

The NWS advises residents to avoid sun exposure, and to check in on neighbors and relatives. The warnings also stress the importance of not leaving children or pets unattended in vehicles, as interior temperatures can quickly become lethal.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that outdoor workers take frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments to reduce the risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Public cooling centers are available in many areas, and residents are encouraged to utilize these facilities as needed. The heat warnings could be extended beyond Friday, depending on the persistence of high temperatures.

The NWS Climate Prediction Center warned last week that high temperatures, accompanied by other weather factors, could increase the risk of wildfires. The Northeast and Midwest are currently expecting cooler temperatures than normal, with frost risks having been issued in New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont.

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